The Jackson Three

let her eat cake

2012-02-06T22:22:00.008-07:00

So we're going to pretend like I haven't lost my camera ~~again~~ and I've gotten around to posting about Izzie's birthday already...mmmk?

Remember how Izzie's birthday cake smashing was an epic fail? Picture my shy baby girl in front of 20+ of our closest family and friends with a cake in front of her... frozen stiff in fear. That girl wouldn't even touch her cake due to stage fright. I even force fed her a little frosting hoping that might encourage her a bit. Nope. She spit it out.

Uncle Nicholas turned 17 this weekend and we had a little party for him. Thank goodness for camera phones. I think Izzie' likes birthdays... just not hers.

Yes she did eat straight out of the ice cream carton

Loving Nicholas' cake

Because every one knows that cake tastes better with a little toe jam

messy girl!

Sink bath @ grandma's = cake success

one year pics!

2012-01-31T22:57:00.009-07:00

Izzie had her pictures taken by the amazing Paige Davis for her first birthday. Check out Paige's website if you haven't already. She is stellar and you should hire her. You will also see Izzie's picture as a link to visit the website. My daughter is just that adorable.

We got some great ones. But if you've ever met my darling child you know that if she doesn't know you she gets shy and just stares at you. She made Paige and I work for the cute smiley shots.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures. Please don't copy them {as in ctrl + c kind of copy}. I shrunk the images and everything. She's all mine and I'd like her to stay that way :)

It got a little rough for her towards the end. She was a great sport though.

Love you bizzie!

ugh.

2012-01-25T22:10:00.003-07:00

This is long... and I won't be offended if you don't read it. It's more for me anyway.

I've had this awful icky sick to my stomach feeling for the past 24 hours.
No I'm not sick.

I need to get this off my chest but I don't really want to write about it because I'm nervous that people will think, "Wow Leslie, you're kinda dumb."

Maybe I am... but please don't say it.

In an effort to keep my new years resolution of being more honest on my blog... here goes.

Yesterday Izzie was sick with a fever and not well enough to go to daycare. I called and cancelled daycare. I tried to get a sub for school but it was too late so they just had to cancel PE. No biggie really. I told my daycare lady that I would keep her posted on whether Izzie got better over the course of the day.

By 6:00pm Izzie still had a fever around 100. So I decided to cancel daycare tomorrow as well. So I called and then I asked as well meaning as ever,

"Since I cancelled on you so last minute this week am I supposed
to pay you?"

to which my daycare lady snapped at me with her thick Italian attitude,

"Well since you've never paid when the baby has been gone in the past... I don't expect you to start paying now!"

I was seriously taken aback. At first I had no idea what she was talking about and then suddenly I realized what she was referring too. Since I "teach" PE I get all school holidays off...unpaid.

Fall break.
Thanksgiving break.
Christmas break.
etc...

She has never said one word to me before this. Not one. I don't remember her ever telling me this or ever signing anything other than a consent form for Ipecac if it were ever needed. I remember her telling me during our interview that she closes for standard holidays. In turn, I told that was fine because I work at school and get all school holidays off so I wouldn't need her then. She never said anything like, "you need to pay me even if you aren't using my services."

In retrospect, when I think about it, I can understand and see the logic in paying her even when I don't need her. It just bugs me that if she expected me to pay her, that she never said anything to me. Instead she just held on to this resentment. I've never had a child in daycare before. How the heck am I supposed to know? I was pissed. And hurt. She's been acting indifferent to me since Izzie came back from Christmas break.
Now I know why.

I went to bed all worked up about it and I'm still thinking about it now {obviously}. And my damn conscious is telling me I should pay her for all of my "breaks". But the {embarrassing} truth... I can't afford it. I can't afford any sort of back payments. I can't afford to pay her when I'm not working and not bringing in money. Daycare already takes half of my paycheck. And we really need that other half to you know...like... live.

So that's that. I'm annoyed at how she went about the situation. I probably could have gotten the money if I had known about it. If she had told me before she got all lame. But now that money is gone and has been used for other things.
Now I feel like she's always going to hate me and that I'm the "bad client". And this combined with a few other things that have happened make me want to find a new daycare provider.
I wish we had family close by that was able to watch Izzie. Finding daycare sucks.

So there you have it. Honest to blog this is how I'm feeling right now.

monday musings

2012-01-23T23:21:00.003-07:00

I love Vick's Vapor Rub. Seriously I think it belongs on the 10 most awesome things invented list {if there is such a thing}. I love it because when Izzie is coughing in the middle of the night I can just rub some on her chest while she's sleeping without waking her up BEFORE her cough wakes her up.

I've been going through some serious sugar withdrawals lately. I give in every time. Fail.

Each new stage Izzie goes through gives me anxiety. I'm always afraid I'm doing something wrong.

Anyone have any tips for the best way to wean a bottle loving baby from her bottle?

These black bean burgers are delicious. You really need to try them. I hadn't made them in a while and I forgot how good they are.

I've been a total slacker lately. A slacker of many things.

I really need to post about Izzie's birthday but I just have had no desire. I hate uploading pictures... it takes forever.

Parenthood is my new favorite TV show.

I'm so tired but I don't want to go to bed even though I have to get up early.

I really need to get back on the healthy eating train.

Speaking of eating... I'm starving but it's 11:40pm so I shall refrain.

I've had a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch every day for the past week. I forgot how delicious they were!

I just realized Troy is reading my post over my shoulder good thing I didn't write anything scandalous ;)

Ok I'm going to bed now.

Isabel: ONE YEAR

2012-01-12T22:31:00.010-07:00

Izzie,

My one year old. I have a one year old. I'm in disbelief. Taylor Swift's song "Never Grow Up" has been playing in my head all week. I'm not sure I'll even be able to get through this letter with out at least a tear or two.

All day I've been thinking about the day you came in to the world. I was remembering random little details. Like how I was starving but they would only let me eat popsicles. I only wanted banana ones. I was the only mom in Labor and Delivery all day that entire day! The nurses kept commenting on how weird it was that no one else had come in. You were the only baby born at LDS hospital that day. Unless someone came in sometime between 8pm-11:59m that day that I wasn't aware of.

You have changed my life. I look at everything in a new way now. I notice little things more. I love seeing things the way you see them. You humble me every day. Every time I think I'm getting this whole mom thing down you surprise me with something new. I've never been tested in so many ways...big and small. Yet I've never experienced such joy! You make me smile at least 100 times a day.

This month I've been beginning to get glimpses of what toddlerhood will be like. You've been needy and whiny these days. You have discovered the tantrum. If you don't get what you want you throw yourself on the floor and scream. It's actually pretty funny. It looks like we might have a little drama queen on our hands! Good thing I've been trained in ABA!

Your little personality is so silly. You love to fake laugh. And you give big cheesy grins. You still get so quiet around people you aren't familiar with but you are so much quicker to warm up. You love to share. You are always trying to share your binky with me.

It seems like every day you do something new. You can make kissy noises and you can point at what you want. Every time you see a phone or something you think is phone {like a remote} you pick it up and put it to your ear and say "eh!" We assume you mean "hi". Your new favorite toy is the garbage can. You figured out how to open the lid and you think that is pretty great. Mom and dad think that it's pretty gross.

You love feeding yourself. Your favorite food right now is spaghetti with sauce.

I love you so much little girl. I am so lucky I get to be your mom. Thanks for putting up with me and being patient with me as I try to figure out this whole mom thing.

Love,
Mom

Why yes that is Drano under there... don't worry we have since baby proofed that cupboard.

Cheesy grin

Happy Birthday!

Resolute Resolutions 2012

2012-01-03T22:26:00.002-07:00

Here are my resolutions in no particular order

Run at least one 5k and one 10k
Read my scriptures every day {at least one verse} for the entire year all 366 days! Woo leap year!
Be more honest on my ole blog. Like the kind of honest that makes me sick to my stomach, delete my post kind of honest.
Get my dad's and my grandma's temple work done.

The end.

2011

2012-01-02T09:46:00.003-07:00

This is my 2011 year in review... what I wish I would have known in a letter to myself.

Dear Me,

I know you are incredibly pregnant and uncomfortable. Keep up the walking. It gives you something to do while you wait for that sweet baby. Don't spend the entire day of January 11th crying because it's your due date and you haven't had her yet. Tomorrow life is about to get real. When your water breaks at 1am make sure you have pads ready so you don't have frantically search for them in the middle of the night, tired and totally freaking out. Oh and you should eat something bigger than a granola bar on the way to hospital. You are in labor for 16.5 hours and it'll be 24 hours since the last time you ate before you get to eat a real meal.

I know that being a new mom kind of sort of... really freaks you out. Don't be so hard on yourself so much. Take more naps during the day even though you feel guilty because Troy is working and going to school and you are just sitting at home. You aren't just sitting at home. You are taking care of baby! Plus, you are the one who has to get up every few hours to nurse {painfully} in the middle of the night. By the way, nursing hurts a lot those first few weeks. It does get better. I promise. And that tear {you know the one} it will take a lot longer than 6 weeks to heal. But it does.

Don't worry so far Izzie is a pretty easy baby. She starts sleeping through the night earlier than you think she will. And then you won't feel so crazy.

It'll take you a long time to find a job but you will find one! So will Troy. And you'll both get them about the same time and of course you won't find them until the very last minute. All of the insurance stuff will work out too. In fact, pretty much every thing you worry about works out in the end. You should really stop stressing about things all of the time.

Your new job will test you and you'll have a few days when you cry in the car. Who would have guessed that kids could be so harsh? They don't mean to be. They are just brutally honest. Keep trying! Speed Stacks don't go over as well as you hoped.

December will be a really rough month in several ways. It kinda sucks. Troy's car breaks down on Christmas day. Just be prepared for that. And for the first time ever you will be over drawn on the checking account. You'll miss dad in a new kind of way this Christmas. Izzie's laugh as she discovers the fun of knocking down block towers on Christmas night will erase all of the worry from your mind. You'll be surprised and touched by all of the people who reach out to you this month.

2011 is an amazing year. You'll be tested in so many new ways. But I promise you that you've never been this happy!

Love the most awesome person you know,
You

Merry Christmas Eve!

2011-12-24T21:59:00.003-07:00

While my family is watching some old black and white Christmas movie...I just can't get in to black and white movies. Can't do it!

I created my very own blog button for my food blog! I feel so tech savvy right now! So you should look to the left of your screen...and click on my button and watch the magic! And if you love me... when it takes you to my site, you should copy the button code and add the button to your page! {But you could still do it even if you only like or tolerate me. That works too!}

And Merry Christmas!!

Isabel: 11 months

2011-12-13T22:13:00.011-07:00

Izzie,

One more month and you will be one year old. A YEAR! I freak out a little more every day. The way the days are slipping away from me lately... you'll be 18 by next week.

My new nick name for you is "Busy" 1)because it rhymes with Izzie 2) because that's exactly what you are... busy. You are busy crawling everywhere. Busy pulling items out of drawers and boxes, pulling out things I just put away. You are busy finding and eating objects that can barely be seen by the naked eye. You are busy playing, singing, laughing, climbing. You wear me out.

This month you have been the most needy you have ever been. You are such a mama's girl. Even though this complicates a lot of the things I need to get done. Sometimes I get a little put out about it... I seriously love it. You give the best hugs. You wrap your little arms tight around my neck when you are in new situations and you are scared someone might try to steal you from me. When I walk in to the room you greet me with a big smile, squeal and come charging at me as fast as you can crawl.

You love peek-a-boo. You love to chase your dad around the house. You especially love to chase grandma and grandpa's dogs. You think this is hilarious. You laugh so hard. It makes me smile.

You are still working up the courage to stand on your own. However, sometimes we'll look over and notice you are standing all by yourself. It doesn't last very long, maybe about 5 seconds until you get too nervous about standing by yourself. I'm sure you'll be walking before we know it but you'd still rather crawl then walk around with us holding your hands.

We took you in to the doctor this month because of this never ending cold that you've had. Apparently it's just teething... Your top 3 teeth are coming in! I was so surprised I didn't realize they would come in so soon! I can see one of your little teeth marks poking through gums. I'm sure it will be popping through soon!

You love the Christmas tree. The ornaments on the bottom half of the tree are now gone. I'm so excited for your first Christmas! So excited! It's been so hard for me to not give you your presents now. I've actually delayed getting you the last of your presents so I won't be tempted to give them to you!

Some of your favorite foods are: cheerios, peas, cheese, tomatoes (so weird for a baby). Pretty much anything you can feed yourself. Baby food was so 5 minutes ago :)

Your favorite toy right now: measuring cups. The first thing you do in the morning is pull the cups out of the drawer! You love to play with them in the kitchen!

You are the most amazing little person! There are days when I still can't even believe you are mine. We are such lucky parents to have you!

Love,
Mom

check out how good I look!

2011-12-06T21:55:00.003-07:00

To preface...I know a lot of people don't feel this way and I am in no way talking about anyone I know personally...please please don't be offended.

One of my blogging pet peeves are the "check out how stylish I am in my clothes" posts that are popping up all over my fave "mommy blogs". You really do dress cute. And I really am jealous of how cute you are. But I don't care.

It may have something to do with the fact 87% of the time I'm dressed like this...

Sweatshirt: Oakhills Elementary (aka my place of employment)
Shirt: Down East on sale
Yoga pants: Kmart
mismatched socks: Journey's

Can we please get back to your mama moments? All I really want to read about are the times you found poop in your hair or thought you might go crazy. Those posts make me feel sane and happy. Fashion posts make me feel bad about myself. kthanksbye.

p.s. I have no idea why my legs look all lumpy in that picture.

eternity

2011-11-30T22:11:00.007-07:00

if you know anything about eternity you know that it has no beginning and no end. I've always hated thinking about this. I've never had a problem with the no end thing... but no beginning? ugh. It gives me a head ache.

I was reading a beautiful story about a family on Vintage Revivals. She was talking about how she had a moment upon meeting her husband that she knew she was going to marry him. She said some thing about her soul recognizing him. I've heard of this before.

It made me think about the first time I met Troy. That first night I met him I remember thinking "this guy is cute! I need to stay far far away from him!" {I had only just gotten out of a very serious relationship a few months previous}

Some how I ended up having to hang out with him and some friends that next weekend. That "hang out" turned in to a semi date and it only took that night for me to know that we would get married.

Everything was easy with him. Everything was familiar with him. Even though I was just getting to know him it was like I had known him my whole life. I remember one time specifically we went to Vegas together with some friends about a month after we had met. He and I were brushing our teeth together in the hotel bathroom. I felt like I had brushed my teeth with him at least a thousand times. I kept thinking how weird that was.

I still think about that day when we brush our teeth together. Which has been at least a thousand times by now.

Mandi from Vintage Revivals wrote this, "I believe that Court and I were together before this life, the moments of recognization were real."

And some how that is when Eternity became clear to me {well at least as clear as it ever has been and probably will be}. I recognized these moments because Troy and I have been and will be together for eternity.

It's giving me a head ache again just thinking about it. But I just thought I'd share :)

....i love us....

I'm {blank} because

2011-11-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

I was going to do this when I first read it off of Little Miss Momma last week. And then I didn't. Then Mara did it. Now I have to! :)

I'm {weird} because...
I love egg nog
I can only fall asleep in two different positions
I have dermatographia
I like taking scalding hot showers
I hate sausage
Cooking is my stress reliever
I lose everything. No really I do. Especially my phone or my keys. In fact, I have no idea where either of them is at this very moment.

I'm a {bad friend} because...
I forget to text people back. I read them and set my phone down to finish whatever I was doing and then I forget to write back.
It takes me forever to return the things I borrow.
I take things a little too personally sometimes.
I'm a home body and most of the time would prefer to stay home and watch Netflix.
I've been a little too wrapped up in my own life lately.

I'm a {good friend} because...
I try to always call a friend on their birthday (sometimes I forget or I can't do it so I text) but I always prefer to call my friends on their birthday instead of text or FB.
I'm a good listener
I accept different views/opinions/beliefs. Just be you.
If you call and tell me you need me... I'll be there asap.

I'm {sad} because...
We're in a bit of a financial drought.
I still don't fit in to all of my pre-pregnancy jeans.
My baby is almost a one year old!
I really really want to go to grad school but that won't happen for a very long time.

I'm {happy} because...
I have the cutest little girl!
I have the most incredible supportive husband!
We just got a bunch of our dishes out of storage and it's nice to be using our own things again.
I'm actually excited for Christmas for the first time since my dad died.

I'm excited for...
Christmas :)
Izzie's first birthday.
Spending time together as a family.
Izzie opening her birthday and christmas presents
Learning how to cook new things!
Candy cane cookies!

why I love my life

2011-11-20T21:16:00.003-07:00

Reason #928...

Troy's making a weird face in his sleep. Ignore that and just observe the perfection of this moment. It made my heart so happy!

under construction

2011-11-18T16:59:00.002-07:00

Please excuse my ugly blog for the next..... I have no idea how long. I'm just sick of the way it looks. It needs a face lift. Except I know little about HTML so it will take me awhile to teach myself how to anything. Not to mention figure out what I want. And since I have been so bad at blogging in general lately who knows how long it will take me to get a "blog lift".

I'm obviously toying around with a new title too... the jackson three. I don't know how I feel about it. Thoughts?I had luke warm feelings about Jacksonville as well. Any suggestions for a new title? I prefer something clever as opposed to something like "The Jacksons".

Anyone just want to do it for me?

Isabel: 10 months

2011-11-12T10:02:00.006-07:00

Izzie,

My oh my! What a busy little girl you are! It seems you are every where these days. Crawling and climbing all over the place. You climbed up on the couch when me and your dad weren't looking and completely surprised us! We hadn't put you up there! You are constantly getting in to things and love pulling tissues from the tissue box and laundry out of the basket. You also love looking at yourself in our big giant closet mirror. It's really helpful when I'm trying to get ready in the morning. I just plop you down in front of it while I decide on an outfit and you are completely content.

Your taste buds are starting to get more refined and you no longer just gag down food that isn't your favorite. You will spit it out or knock the spoon out of my hands. You love Cheerios and especially yogurt. I can no longer eat a yogurt by myself. You whine and moan and throw a fit until I give you bite after bite.

You are really silly. You love to try and bite peoples noses. You think it's hilarious! With the weather getting really cold we bought you a big purple puffy coat. You aren't too fond it. As soon as you put it on you get really stiff and just stare at us like, "can I be done now?". You had your first Halloween! It was pretty uneventful. We stayed home and gave out candy since we all had been sick. However, you were the cutest little skeleton around!

You finally got your first tooth! And your second one looks as if it will pop through any day! You've been really good with teething. It doesn't seem to bother you too much {thank goodness!}. I also am starting to think you might be a lefty. I had my suspicions when you first started grabbing things but now it's become more apparent how much you use your left hand! I think it will be interesting to see what happens as you get older!

I can't believe you are 10 months already. I remember those first few sleep deprived weeks when I wondered how I would ever make it through this first year and suddenly this first year has almost come and gone. You are growing up much too fast. We love watching you grow and learn new things. I wouldn't be surprised if by next month you've learned to stand up on your own with out holding on to anything. You are already experimenting with letting go of whatever you are holding on to. You are so fun and the perfect addition to our family! We love you!

Love,
Mom

Still here

2011-11-10T08:30:00.004-07:00

Hello! I am definitely not dead! Just really bad about updating this blog and my food blog. Between working two jobs (both very part time but... still) being a mom, and constantly being sick I haven't done very much. It seems just as I am getting over one cold, I catch another one. Insert a little food poisoning in to the mix and you can understand how much fun I've had! Izzie has been sick as well. Just with a cold but it's made it hard for her to sleep because she can't breathe. So as many parents know, when your baby isn't sleeping... neither are you. It's been a rough month on my body. I have felt like the walking dead. I have literally spent all of my free time sleeping.

Other than being sick the Jackson crew hasn't been up to much. Just hanging out with some friends I haven't seen in a while. Troy's been busy with school,work and basketball. Izzie is getting bigger and smarter every day. We're still here. We might be a little boring but here nonetheless.

Isabel: 9 months

2011-10-15T21:31:00.007-06:00

Izzie,

Oh my little baby girl. You turning 9 months is officially freaking me out. I've been ok with every other month birthday. I've been excited for each new month and all of the fun new changes that come with it. This month though... You are getting much too big. You will be one year old in only 3 short months. It took me 9 months to "bake" you. It feels like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms for the very first time, scared and happy all in the same moment.

You are getting so smart. You are figuring out new things every day. You can wave hello and good bye. It's very inconsistent and takes a lot of prompting but you can do it. You have finally started real crawling, none of this army crawl stuff. You're still getting the hang of it though. It's a very mechanical crawl and looks like you're thinking really hard to be able to do it correctly. You do this really funny thing when you try to crawl in to the bathroom. You don't like crawling over the metal transition piece between the bathroom linoleum and the hall carpet. You'll stick you're bum in the air with your feet on the ground until you get on to the linoleum.

You've become quite the little explorer. You crawl all over the house now. I'm constantly chasing after you and pulling out random things from your mouth that you found on the carpet. The scariest thing I pulled out of your mouth was a piece of glass. Dad broke a plate on the kitchen floor a few weeks ago. We swept and swept. I thought we got all of it up. But you never cease to amaze us with your minuscule object finding skills. The pack n' play has become a permanent fixture in our living room. God bless the person who invented it.

You are still somewhat shy with strangers. You'll smile at them if they seem friendly enough to you. Unless they're a big tall man with a deep voice. Then you get this very serious nervous look on your face. You don't give out laughs very easily. We have to work really hard for those. You still laugh the most and the loudest for dad.

You say "mama". I'm not 100% sure you know that mama is me. You do say "mama" whenever you want my attention. And other people have noticed it too. So I like to think it's your first official word. You have also figured out how to unscrew the lid on water bottles. I have no idea how you learned this. It drives me crazy.

You love eating and we've been slowly introducing table foods to you. You love them. You've gotten quite good at picking up those little bits of food!

You are such a wonderful little person. We couldn't be more happy that you are ours.

Love,
Mom

P.S. we're still waiting for those little teeth to pop through!

kids say the darndest things

2011-10-05T17:41:00.003-06:00

These are the kinds of conversations I have every day...

on a particularly chilly morning when most of the kids were complaining of the cold one boy piped up and said, "Mrs. Jackson I'm not cold. In fact I'm warm. I was born in spring so I'm used to this weather." Ok dude, whatever you say.

girl: "Mrs. Jackson I can't sit down I'm allergic to grass" (After she had just been rolling around)
me: well you were just rolling in the grass...
girl: my pants aren't allergic to grass
me: I think you'll be fine, sit down

girl 2: "I can't do sit ups today. My heel hurts "

boy: So how do we play?
me: {I explain how to play}
boy: that wasn't a question
me: what wasn't a question?
boy: what I asked
me: if you asked it... that's a question.
boy: no it's not.

and my favorite...

girl: Mrs. Jackson you look different today
me: how do I look different?
girl: you look pretty

I'll take what I can get :)

a typically typical day

2011-09-22T09:01:00.003-06:00

My friend Mary posted {awhile ago, I'm behind} her typical day and I liked it. And I thought I want to do that to. So here I go!

Here is my typical non-working day...

6:20 am- wake up call from my cute little alarm I like to call Izzie.
6:20-6:45 am- Play with Izzie and make my breakfast {instant breakfast and a slice of bread with peanut butter}
6:45am- feed Izzie and myself
7:00am- watch Good Morning America while Izzie plays for 30-45 minutes
7:45am- do the dishes while Izzie plays in the exersaucer. Continue until dishes are done or until Izzie whines or cries wayy too much. If I'm lucky I get to clean some of the kitchen too.
8:30-9am ish- Put Izzie down for a nap.
9-11am- Then I either nap, finish cleaning, blog, Facebook, watch tv, look up lesson plan ideas for PE the next week.
11am- Izzie gets up from her nap and eats lunch.
12pm- I eat lunch
12:30-2:30- play with Izzie, run errands
2:30pm- make Izzie a bottle
2:45-3pm- put Izzie down for second nap
3-5pm- figure out dinner, surf internet for recipes, craft
5pm- Izzie wakes up
5:30pm- make Izzie dinner/feed her
6pm- make dinner
7:00-7:30pm- Troy comes home, we eat dinner
7:30- family play time
8:00 pm- Put Izzie in jammies and feed her and rock her to sleep.
8:30-9pm Izzie {hopefully} is in her crib trying to fall asleep. Troy and I take turns going in to her room to rub her back, lay her back down and tell her it's bed time.
9pm- watch tv with Troy or more recently do some P90x. I only do P90x 3 times a week.
10:30pm- in bed falling asleep.

I'm exhausted just typing it out.

The End.

Isabel: 8 months

2011-09-11T21:49:00.011-06:00

I'm a bit behind on blogging lately... forgive me. I just haven't been in the mood.

Dear Izzie,

I just have to say how much fun you've been lately. Your little personality has really begun to shine. You squeal, flap your lips {and spit all over us in the process}, give big slobbery kisses, laugh at us and yourself, bounce up and down, crawl and get in to ev-er-y-thing.

You get so excited when you see animals, especially dogs. You try to play with the big kids at grandma and grandpa's. Luckily you have mostly girl cousins so they love having a baby to play with. You love to look at yourself in the mirror and you give yourself big wet kisses. You absolutely love people too. You have even started giving big cheesy grins to strangers.

Some new things you started doing are: standing and army crawling {really well} we've tried to put you on your knees but you prefer to army crawl. You can pull yourself up in your crib and you try to stand up using just about everything. Your favorite toys aren't even toys. You love cells phones, remote controls, air vents, hair brushes and just about anything dangerous that a baby shouldn't get their hands on.

This month you went camping for the first time and you had a really great time. You slept surprisingly well during the night. Except your dad and I discovered that you are a bed hog. The only time you started crying at night was when one of us were in your way. You'd hit or kick us until we moved. You also started going to day care twice a week while I'm at work. You seem to enjoy it and your sitter Carmela adores you. She says you are such a good baby {and I couldn't agree more}. It's so hard to leave you though. I hope you know that! If I had it my way I would stay home with you all day. Unfortunately, we aren't in the position that we can do that. Lucky for us though it's only two days a week!

This month you got your first cold. You must have gotten it from day care because you got sick first and then your dad and I got sick with sore throats. It was so awful seeing you sick. You just moaned all day and night for two days. They were some exhausting days for all of us.

I am so glad that you are mine. I love you so much.

Love, Mom

(Playing with dad before church)

(getting in to things)

(hanging out watching some tv, I'm a horrible parent I know)

(Standing up in our crib)

(bath time! our favorite time of the day!)

(my two sickies taking a nap)

Mrs. Jackson

2011-08-31T12:12:00.002-06:00

That's my official PE teacher name. It's weird. I have a whistle and everything {yeah, I'm legit}. Yesterday was my first day teaching and HOLY HANNAH is it hard work. I think I have a lot of bad karma coming my way too. I was a nightmare student when it came to PE. I was that kid who thought I was being funny when I was actually being really obnoxious. I never followed instructions. Please Karma...be kind.

My first day went a little something like this...

Hi I'm Mrs. Jackson, rules, rules, yada yada, YELLING YELLING, whistle blowing, almost broke my ankle, got told I had armpit sweat, more yelling, walking from one end of the school to the other, standing in the heat ALL.DAY., made a girl cry, more yelling and whistle blowing. I came home and collapsed on the floor.

I was in bed asleep by 10pm. I usually never go to sleep until around midnight. I would like to say that I slept like a baby but instead I kept having nightmares about PE.

Here's to day 2!

my silly girl

2011-08-22T10:07:00.003-06:00

I may have gotten a little picture happy the other day... but she was being so funny. She kept laughing and squealing through this little phone photo shoot. Isn't she so cute? {And I promise those aren't real glasses! I wasn't trying to give her a head ache! }

Hey You! Yeah You!

2011-08-13T18:02:00.002-06:00

Do you like food? Do you like cooking? Or do you despise cooking but do it anyway as a means to get food? If you meet any of the above criteria then you should check out Husband Approved Food! One of my very best friends Mallory and I decided that since we love cooking and sharing recipes that maybe we should try out this whole recipe blog thing together. We're still in the works on design and such but there are three whole recipes on there right now! Tasty recipes too! So go give us a visit at Husband Approved Food! Leave a comment, follow us! I'll pay you back in blog love! Go do it right now!!

Isabel: 7 months

2011-08-12T10:46:00.009-06:00

My Izzie,

Today I am so grateful to be able to celebrate your seven month of life! It really has been the greatest time of my life! You are so special and so brilliant! You are such a happy baby!

Your jabber has turned in to what I like to pretend are words. You say "dadadada", "mamamama", and "babababa". You've been pretty needy lately. You cry when I walk out of the room and whenever I walk by, you hold your arms up with this little pouty face. It's not that I'm ignoring you. I'm just trying to get things done!

You love food! Your favorites are carrots, bananas, beef with sweet potatoes (the kind I make for you) and peas! You eat all of those with surprising gusto. And many of those bites come with an "mmm". You don't so much like avocado, salmon, or watermelon. It always takes you at least 3 or 4 bites before you decide that you don't like something and then you start making this gagging noise. Except for the watermelon. You shivered after the first bite and started making this gagging sound and then you actually threw up a little bit. It was pretty funny.

You are such a daddy's girl. You absolutely light up when he comes through the door. You start kicking your feet and get this big grin on your face. Nobody can make you laugh like your dad can. You love playing with him. He tosses you on the bed and tickles you and you love it! Which is a good thing because your dad isn't the kind to play gentle. I have a feeling that in no time you two will be wrestling each other.

I also think you'll be crawling much sooner than I'm ready for you. You've started to get on your hands and knees and do that rocking motion everyone has been telling me so much about!

You are such a joy and we love you so much!!

Love, Mom

All of the lovely photos of my beautiful baby were taken by the AMAZING Paige Davis Photography! She's so great to work with! She did Izzie's newborns too!

Pray for Ruby Jane

2011-08-09T08:23:00.004-06:00

I don't typically do this kind of thing but I was really touched while reading about this family last night. I seriously just started crying as I read about their sweet baby girl. She's only a week older than Isabel and I cannot imagine what they must be going through. No parent should ever have to watch their child go through that kind of pain. A friend of mine posted a link to their blog on Facebook. I don't know them but I think every extra prayer they can get would helpful. So put baby Ruby Jane in your prayers!

Happy Birthday Troy!

2011-08-06T10:39:00.006-06:00

It's this sexy man's birthday today....

{This is an old picture from Thanksgiving 2009 it just makes me laugh}

I'm so glad he was born 26 years ago today! In honor of his birthday I've decided to share with you 26 things you may not know about my awesome husband!

1. He's the biggest sports nerd I've ever met.
2. He's obsessed with Oregon Duck Football
3. He loves mountain biking (that's actually what he's doing right now!)
4. His favorite color is green
5. His favorite bands are Thrice, Rise Against and Say Anything
6. He hates mushrooms
7. He's really good at football
8. He likes to play golf
9. He watches ESPN on all.the.time.
10. His favorite food is italian
11. He says I-talian and I think its weird
12. His favorite donuts are the white cake donuts from Dick's Market
13. He's the 4th of 5 children
14. He's originally from Oregon
15. He had the unique opportunity of being able to serve in 3 different countries while on his mission (U.S., Venezuela, Chile)
16. He's fluent in spanish
17. He's really close with his family
18. His middle name is Dennis
19. He likes watching Jersey Shore
20. He loves to go fishing
21. When we go camping he loves to go out and find {huge} dead trees and knock them over to make fire wood
22. He's really easy going
23. His favorite meal that I make for him is baked ziti
24. If he could go anywhere in the world he'd go to the Caribbean
25. He's really indecisive
26. He has a really cute wife and daughter :)

I love you Troy! Thanks for being born! You are such an amazing husband and father! Izzie and I are so blessed to have you in our lives!

Finally

2011-08-03T14:32:00.002-06:00

I am happy to announce that I am once again an employed member of society!! I will be the new PE teacher at Oak Hills Elementary.

I'm so grateful for this job. I know I definitely had some divine help when it came to finally landing the perfect new job. I was actually applying for a different job at the school district and asked my neighbor if I could list her as a reference since she also works for the district. It turns out that she was hiring at her school for the PE job and they hadn't even put it on the district website yet. This job was better hours and pay. I met with her and before I knew it she asked me if I wanted the job.

It's perfect. It's good pay. Two days a week so I still get to stay home with my baby most of the week. It'll be nice to get out of my house once in a while!

I would like to say that I never got discouraged over these past 4 months of searching. I would like to say that I never doubted God had a plan. But that would be lying.

Why is it that God always seems to push you to your limits and make you wait until the last moments of desperation before he finally let's the sun peek through the clouds? I know that it wouldn't be a test if I wasn't actually tested but believe me I was getting worried.

Troy and I had a looming deadline. His school schedule will be hectic this fall and as a result his hours at work will be cut significantly. I needed to find something fast! My first day of work is the first day his schedule changes! Definitely cutting it close!

I know the next year or two might be difficult for Troy and I as he tries to finish his degree as quickly as possible. My poor husband is working himself to the bone! However, I know that we will always be taken care of. Sometimes I get so jealous {even though I try not to} of all my friends with husbands who have finished school, own houses, go on fun trips, etc... I'm so quick to forget my blessings. It's a bit obvious why God constantly has to remind me by putting me through these "tests" {when will I learn?}. But I'm so grateful for the reminders!

Also, if any of you know someone who might be willing to watch the worlds cutest baby Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting on August 23rd... let me know!

And all you Rec Center peeps also as of today... I'm baaack. Yeah, yeah, yeah... don't say it.

Food

2011-07-26T10:12:00.004-06:00

As some of you know nutrition is pretty important to me. It's what I got my minor in. I would have switched it to my major if The University of Utah offered it as a major. But I was too close to graduating and didn't want to transfer schools again.

I'm not saying that I eat 100% great. I love chips, donuts, cookies, etc... And I in no way intend to completely cut these out of my diet. I do however try to make healthy choices. I try to limit my intake of the aforementioned goodies, I buy 100% whole grain everything, fruits, veggies, etc... I have rules about what I will and won't feed my daughter. Nutrition is a big deal.

Last night I watched this movie and it definitely made an impact on me.

Seriously, it's going to further change the way me and my family eat forever. It's going to make me think twice about what I purchase. I know it's not going to be an over night thing. But I will be better.

A means of escape or release from confinement; an outlet

2011-07-21T10:57:00.002-06:00

That was the definition of vent. Since I was in tears this morning. Here I go...

I've decided that sometimes I really really hate being an adult. The majority of the time the pros definitely out weigh the cons. Yet sometimes those darn cons suck.

I don't really like to lay out all of my problems right here on my blog. In fact, I know that I've been pretty blessed. Sometimes I feel like my struggles are so petty, but I still struggle. Troy and I have been living in a state of high stress lately. {Just to preface no our marriage is not in a state of high stress. We've just got a lot on our plate right now}. This morning when the guy called to tell me that the repairs on my car were going to cost well over $700. I lost it. More so because I took my car in to the exact same place less than a month ago for the exact same problem and they didn't fix it right the first time. Which of course isn't their fault because they still would have "encouraged" me to complete the other repairs. But no worries because they're going to give me a 5% discount {sarcasm much intended}. Do you know what 5% of $700 is? I do. It's $35.

And the thing that made me the most mad? That I couldn't get mad at them. That I just said "ok." I can't make myself get mad at people. Probably because I've worked in customer service for 8 years. I've had quite a few jobs in my time and have been yelled at for ridiculous things, some justified but usually not. Ex. Because their check bounced, or I caught them sneaking in, there was dirt in their salad, or we don't allow outside food, the power went out, poop in the pool, not enough parking spaces and a million other things. I've been that person time and again.

I usually just let it go. But this time when I feel that I am really justified. It's like I don't know how. Even though I've seen it happen a million times.

And it makes me mad at myself.

Things to do: grow a backbone.

new project in the works!

2011-07-14T11:28:00.009-06:00

I'm so excited I can barely stand it! My husband is picking up this today....

I've been searching for the right dresser with doors in the middle FOREVER. This beauty is going to be the new home for our TV and DVD's. This way little baby fingers can't pull DVD's off the shelf or press buttons. Now that she's a roller she's already rolled her way over to our current cheap glass TV stand and tried pulling things off.

I just can't decide what color to paint it. Definitely not black. I hate dusting. I'm kind of wanting to go with a grey and yellow color scheme for our living room...

so maybe something like this...

{source}

or this...

{source}

or this...

{source}

or maybe this...

{source}

or maybe this, this, this or this.

What should I do???

goin' to the bbq and we're gonna get married...

2011-07-13T10:06:00.005-06:00

As some of you may know my mom got married on the 4th of July. It was a total surprise. Kinda like a surprise birthday party only in reverse. The stars of the show knew and the guests had no idea. I've told several people over text the gist of the story but for those of you who want the whole story... here it goes!

My mom and Blair have been dating for two years and had gotten engaged about a month ago while on a hiking trip. He proposed to her in Moab under Wedding Ring Arch. Cute huh? Since neither of them wanted to make a big deal out of the wedding they just wanted to get married by a justice of the peace.

I on the other hand, had several stipulations for this marriage.

1. my mother had to wear a white dress
2. my mother needed a bouquet
3. there had to be cake {so I could eat it}

My mom never had these with her previous marriage. So I wanted my mom to feel bride-esque. She and I grappled back and forth about this for awhile. I'd keep asking her when she thought her and Blair were going to tie the knot and she kept being elusive about the date but hinting more toward August.

Then my mom told me that she and Blair wanted to have a barbecue on the 4th of July. I thought nothing of it. I mean there are like a bazillion barbecues that day. She told me that Blair's son Curtis and his other son Connor and his wife Katie and their kids would be in town. Then we would all decide on a date that worked for us so we could all partake in this joyous occasion.

On July 4th, We get to Blair's house and see lots of cars. I was certainly confused. I thought it was only going to be us kids. We walk to the backyard and see my mom's entire family and Blair's entire family. Then my mom walks out in the white sundress she had been telling me about for the wedding. I am instantly irritated because I think to myself, "She's getting married today! My mom invited all of these people to her wedding and some how forgot to mention to her ONE and ONLY child that she was getting married!"

I don't say anything to her because I don't want to get mad at her and make her feel bad on her wedding day. I also don't mention anything to any of my family because I'm embarrassed that my mom forgot to tell me. Except no one is saying anything about a wedding. And everyone is very barbecue casual. So then I think, "Ok maybe I'm overreacting. They just invited their families so everyone can meet because they're going to be getting married soon. And my mom probably just wanted to wear the dress because it's a nice day. It is a sun dress after all."

We have a blessing on the food and then Blair stands up. He says something about how nice it is that everyone came and yada yada... I don't really remember what he said because suddenly my mom comes walking out with our Bishop and my jaw dropped. She sees my face and starts laughing. Suddenly Blair announces, "Oh and by the way everyone since you're all here, we decided today would be a nice day to get married!" To my relief, everyone was surprised! NO one knew!

And then they got married under an awning several feet away from the potato salad. Blair wore a plaid shirt and shorts. It was all very casual. And then the Bishop left and we finished with our barbecue. So my mom got what she wanted a stress free, no big deal wedding and I got what I wanted. My mom wore a white dress, there was a bouquet of flowers on the table and there was cake. And it was delicious!

It was a really nice day. My mom is incredibly happy. I don't think she has stopped smiling since. Here are a couple pictures from their special day!

This is a picture of my moms ring. They didn't even have their official wedding rings for the wedding yet because they were being custom made. The sides are turquoise and elk ivory. Blair has a band sort of similar to it. If you know my mom her ring is very her!

Isabel: six months

2011-07-12T10:24:00.004-06:00

Dear Izzie,

Oh my dear sweet girl! {I sounded like my mother just then...weird}. I can't believe you have been alive for half a year. Half a year? It makes me want to cry.

You have started to come out of your shy little cocoon and smile at everyone you see. You give the best smiles that warm my heart. I could seriously stare at you all day long. You give full blown laughs now. We have to work really hard to get them but they're worth it. Believe me I've done some crazy things, that may or may not include some ridiculous dance moves just to hear that sweet laugh.

You sit up so well by yourself. You'd rather be on your tummy than on your back. I can no longer leave you unattended on a bed because you roll like crazy! You've shown lots of interest in crawling. You get so frustrated when something is out of your reach and you can't figure out how to move your legs to get there. This past week you were sitting up in the bath tub playing with a toy and while I was reaching for the shampoo you fell face first in to the water. You scared me half to death. The memory of you coughing up all the water you had just inhaled, after only being under water for 1.3 seconds still haunts me. I made your dad give you all of your baths the rest of the week. I'm still scarred.

I love pulling you out of your crib in the morning or from a nap. You cling to me like I've just rescued you from some terrible torture.

You've started giving me hugs. I melt. You give really slobbery open mouth kisses too. You also rest your little head on my shoulder during church and all of the ladies in relief society just die from your cuteness.

You are practically perfect in every way! {Even though we're going through another rough patch full of tears}.

Love, Mom

6 month stats

Weight: 18lbs 4oz, 89%
Height: 26.5in, 79%
Head 98%

the many faces of Izzie

2011-07-01T11:39:00.006-06:00

These were all taken within about a 90 second time frame. It made me laugh.

Oh and by the way if you couldn't tell from the pictures... she can sit up all by herself as of the other day!!

reminders

2011-06-22T09:40:00.004-06:00

I've been really discouraged lately. Not about anything in particular that I want to talk about. I was sitting on my front porch last night watching all of the cars drive past on my busy street. That's what I do when I want a little me time/time to think. Watching cars drive by has some sort of soothing effect for me. That's when I was reminded of something.

Two years ago this month I was searching for a new part time job. I was looking for something in the psychology field. If you only have a Bachelor's in psychology most employers want at least a year of related experience. I was graduating in a little over a year so if I wanted to be able to apply for the good jobs when I graduated I needed to start now. I remember I prayed and prayed to help me find the job that would prepare me for what I wanted to do in the future.

It didn't take me long to find the perfect job. The job was working with a family who's little boy has autism and doing ABA therapy with him in his home. It was in my field, a mile from my house, perfect hours for my school schedule, I could still keep my other job and to top it all off it paid really well. I emailed the mom to see if the position was still open and before I even had time to put my resume together she emailed back about an interview. I seriously felt like the stars had aligned. I had a really good feeling about this job. You know that feeling...where you know you're supposed to be doing something? I was so excited! I met with the mom for an interview and I got the job.

I was so grateful. I knew the stars really had aligned and Heavenly Father helped me find this amazing opportunity. I was floating on a cloud. Then I started actually working and I immediately came crashing back down to earth. This job was h-a-r-d. Learning the therapy programs was more complicated than I had imagined. Keeping all of the rules straight of when you should do this, when you should do that and when there are exceptions to where you should be doing something different. To make matters worse, we had weekly staff meetings where I had to go in front of the mom, the lead therapist and the other aides and do what we called "sittings". I kind of really sucked in the beginning. I get really nervous in front of people and then having to sit there and have everyone tell me what I did wrong made me want to throw up.

Also, I don't know how many of you have ever been around someone who has autism but it's not an easy disorder. Sometimes he was the sweetest little boy who I wanted to smother with hugs and kisses. Other times I was almost in tears.

It was a surprise every day. Maybe today he'd be happy and laughing and we'd have a lot of fun. Or maybe today would be rough and he'd pull out another clump of my hair, slap me, throw stuff at me, kick, bite, pinch, claw, scream at me. Some days I would literally come home covered with bruises and scratches.

There were moments I wanted to quit. I had days I would come home, cry and dread having to go back the next day. I questioned why I had been lead to this job. Obviously, this job is too hard. Maybe I had made a mistake, maybe Heavenly Father had made a mistake.

And now two years later... jobless. I have figured out why I needed that job. It wasn't to prepare me for my future career. I needed that job to prepare me to be a mother. When I started that job in July of 2009, I had no plans of getting pregnant 9 months later. This job taught me mothering skills. Patience, kindness and perseverance. It taught me to love someone despite the moments when they've been a complete terror. It taught me to let loose and that it's OK to be silly. Kids love silly. It also taught me a million other things I probably have yet to realize or discover.

Anyway, my reminder last night was that when there are discouraging moments in life, moments when I question what I am doing or I question if Heavenly Father knows what he is doing...He does. I might think I know what I need preparing for, but I don't know all of the answers. I just need to have faith to get through this moment because I know he has something planned for me.

hair today, gone tomorrow

2011-06-17T15:13:00.012-06:00

I am by no means a hair stylist but I sure do love cutting Troy's hair. He lets me do whatever I want. Troy's latest 'do is inspired by my cousin's little boy Wilson. Since I have no little boy to give a mohawk to... I improvise.

presenting Troy's mohawk....

I mean I don't think he delivers the same cuteness effect that Wilson does. It does however, suit him quite well.

I also had a very good hair day the other day. I took a picture of it just to document it. Usually whenever I try to curl my hair I look like the love child of Shirley Temple and Orphan Annie. I must have skipped the doing hair spurt during puberty. I've been practicing curling my hair during nap times. So forgive me but I'm just really impressed with myself.

I tried to curl my hair like this again today because troy and I are going on date. It's not as bad as love child but not nearly this good. Oh well.

random thoughts for today

2011-06-14T10:00:00.003-06:00

1. I'm not sure I'll ever be a clutter free person. I'm trying to obtain this skill though.

2. How many times can a person introduce themselves to you before you can say "We've met, several times actually." And not be considered rude? We've been in our ward a year now and there is a lady at church who never remembers me. Last Sunday was either the 4th or 5th time she's asked "Are you new in our ward? I haven't seen you before." I actually really wanted to say to her "We've met. You've asked me to pray twice in sunday school. I've talked in church and I sing in ward choir with you." Alas, I refrained and gave her my name for the 4th or 5th time. To which she replied, "Oh ok. That maybe sounds familiar." Maybe? {sigh}.

3. I'm seriously rethinking this 10k thing. Seriously.

4. I love summer mornings.

5. My trainer kicks my trash and I love her for it.

6. I've read lots of parenting books {ok more like online articles} about not letting your baby get used to falling asleep in your arms too often. And I don't care. I love holding my daughter more than anything. I'd rather hold her too much than later regret not having enough of these moments.

7. I need someone to go jogging with in the morning around 8:30 or 9. Any takers?

8. I watch way too much tv.

9. Being a stay at home mom gets lonely sometimes.

10. I love my magic bullet! {Thanks, Kerstin!}

Isabel: 5 months

2011-06-13T12:10:00.006-06:00

Dear Izzie,

What a crazy month it has been! As always you are bigger (you've started wearing your 9 months sized clothes and they're only just a little too long for you) and getting cuter by the second.

The first two weeks of this past month you decided that you were much too cool for your binky. You temporarily weaned yourself from it. I had a love/hate relationship with this moment. I loved that I wouldn't have to wean you from it myself. However I hated trying to find other less effective methods of soothing you. All you wanted to do was suck on something but your binky just wasn't cutting it. At this time you also decided that going to bed at 11-11:30pm, waking up for about 30 min to an hour at 3am, and then getting up for the day at 6:30am was the way to go. Did I mention that you also refused to nap during the day? The only way I could get you to fall asleep at night or for a short 30 min nap during the day was holding you until you screamed yourself asleep. It was a rough couple of weeks for us both. There were a few days where I put you in your crib with a toy and shut the door and I laid down for a quick power nap. Fortunately, that phase has passed us and we're back to our routine.

Despite that minor blip you have been an absolute joy! You love to play and laugh. You make the silliest noises and sometimes you are so loud I can't even hear your dad talking when he is sitting right next to me. You've tried solid foods (carrots and sweet potatoes) and you seem a little unsure about them. You preferred the carrots though. You've only had solids a few times though because I've decided to hold off on them for a bit.

You can roll from both your back to your tummy and your tummy to your back now. Except you're pretty lazy and you don't do it very often unless there is something you really want just out of reach. You're dad is probably you're favorite person. Whenever he walks in to the room you can't keep your attention on anything you're supposed to be doing (i.e. eating) you just stare and smile at him all the time. You love playing together and he can always get you to smile the biggest. You also have developed an affinity for water bottles. You're kind of obsessed with them actually. It all started the day you kept reaching for mine so I let you try a drink from it. I can't have a water bottle remotely near you without you trying to steal it. If you see one your face lights up and sometimes you say "Oooo!" just at the sight. You love to take sips from them and you've actually gotten pretty good at it for a 5 month old baby. You won't drink water if I put it in your bottle though. Like I said, you're obsessed with water bottles.

You've been around a few other babies your same age this month too. It's been fun to compare you and see what is baby and what is personality. You're such an observant little one. You don't like seeing too many new faces at once. You have to let everything soak in before you can be passed around. You don't give out smiles to strangers that's for sure. Instead you give them a cute little scowl. It's fine by me though. As long as I get to see your big sweet smiles.

We love you so much pretty girl!

Love, Mom.

the big 2-4

2011-06-06T11:36:00.008-06:00

I had the most super stupendous birthday a girl could ask for! I never liked my birthday very much growing up. My birthday always fell a day or two after school got out for the summer so there were always a million things going on. Lots of people left for vacation or there were always "schools out" pool parties. It's hard to compete with those kids who have pools. Sprinklers anyone?

Troy always tries to make my birthday special for me. And he most certainly accomplishes it every year! Minus the year when we had just started dating. That year I was interning at X96 for Radio From Hell. I got to meet Panic At The Disco that day and when they found out it was my birthday they gave me 2 free tickets to their concert. I invited Troy and he declined because he already made plans to play basketball. What a lame-o! I still give him a hard time about it.

So my day started when I woke up at 6:15 and couldn't go back to sleep. Troy got up with me and we watched season one of Lost on Netflix until Izzie woke up. After Izzie woke up and had some breakfast Troy gave me my gifts. He got me the latest Lady Gaga album and a shirt with this guy's face on it...

If you're not familiar, this is John Cena. He's a wrestler for the WWE and I'm a tad bit obsessed with him. I don't even watch wrestling but I will turn it on from time to time if I know he's on. He is my celebrity crush.

After presents we decided it was time to clean the house. So we turned up my new Lada Gaga CD and danced in the kitchen as we cleaned. Izzie loved it. Her face would light up with a big smile when Troy and I would break out the dance moves for her while she sat in the bouncer. Big smiles very similar to this one.

This is my favorite smile she makes. It's so goofy.

After that Troy and I went to The Olive Garden and then to my favorite miniature golf course out in Layton called Swan Lakes. Troy's parents watched Izzie for us. We had a really good time. I wanted to be a really good blogger and have all these pictures for you so I brought my camera to document the whole thing. Unfortunately we only got one picture and then my camera battery died. So here is our one picture from my birthday! Mara took some later that day so hopefully I can post those too.

After golfing we went to a BBQ for our niece Allison. Her birthday is 2 days after mine. It was delicious food as always :) And last but not least after Allison's BBQ we went back to our house and a few close friends came over for some ice cream cake.

I really had a fabulous day. Turning 24 wasn't as horrible as I thought it might be. 24 just sounds so old to me. But I'm only getting older so I guess I better get used to it.

Anniversary Weekend

2011-05-24T11:33:00.007-06:00

Troy and I celebrated our two year anniversary this past weekend! It was on the 21st the day of the alleged rapture. I'm sure glad there was no rapture. That probably would have put a damper on our weekend!

On Saturday our anniversary (aka the rapture) Troy and I woke up in the morning and got massages while our awesome neighbor Kristin watched Izzie. It was the most awkward massage of my life. My massage therapist kept using her elbow to get the knots out of my back so her face was really close to my head and she kept swallowing really loudly. I couldn't relax.

In the afternoon our little family had the opportunity to go up to the Bountiful Temple and be sealed. It was a really nice ceremony. Except Izzie screamed and I mean screamed the entire time. You could hear her as they brought her down the hall. I couldn't even hear what the sealer was saying over her screams. She was so tired and super hungry. She was supposed to eat while I was getting ready so I gave a bottle to the temple workers at the youth center but she wouldn't take it from them. So she arrived to the sealing tired, hungry and really really mad. It makes for a fun memory though!

And now for the mushy gushy ooey gooey part you can skip... I love my husband. Seriously he is incredible. He is the hardest worker I have ever known. He goes to school full time and works full time. And then we he gets home he still takes the baby to give me a break. I love walking in to our room and he's holding izzie on his lap and reading to her from one of his school books. He's way too good to me. He gave me a much too generous anniversary present and I didn't get him anything because I thought we had discussed not exchanging gifts. I sat there crying because I didn't get him anything and he reassured me it was ok and that I deserved this present. He puts up with me, he supports me, he teaches me, he loves me, he is my everything. I seriously don't know what I would do without him. He is the only person who has made me feel safe in my entire life. I love knowing I can count on him for anything and everything.

I love you Troy. I'm so glad that you are mine forever and ever.

Belly Button Piercees Beware

2011-05-19T11:20:00.003-06:00

I got my belly button pierced when I was 18. I know, I know! gasp! shock! awe! Don't judge me. At the time, the boy I was dating broke my heart. I was a big mess. Just ask my dear friend Mallory she was there to comfort me the day it happened. Somehow in my mind the only way to mend my broken heart was by putting a hole in my body. Literally the moment after I stopped crying myself in to dehydration and pulled myself together the best I could, I got the bright idea to pierce my navel. So I went and did it. A little impulsive? Yes. I'm just glad it wasn't a tattoo.

Being completely honest I loved my piercing. Loved. I left it in until I got pregnant and it started looking weird. In case you didn't know... scar tissue doesn't do well when it's stretched beyond it's brink. So now I'm left with this gross saggy skin at the top of my belly button. Super attractive, I know. Don't worry I'm not going to post a picture. Good thing my husband loves me. Stretch marks are so gross. As if being pregnant, getting fat, adjusting to motherhood, and raising a child weren't hard enough. I look like I've been mauled by a tiger. No more bikini's for this mama.

This really wasn't going to turn in to a stretch mark tangent. I'm not really sure why I'm even telling you any of this. I guess so I can see the humor in motherhoodness (yeah I just made that up). I guess my gross belly button is pay back for my piercing sin. So if you're a girl, want to have kids someday and are considering getting your navel pierced(you're probably not) or if you know someone who is... come on over I'll show you my belly button and change your mind!

4 month stats

2011-05-17T15:07:00.003-06:00

We went to see Dr. Reese yesterday and baby Isabel is doing well! He was impressed with all of her new skills. He asked if she had rolled over by herself yet and I had to say no. However maybe an hour after we got home from the doctor she started rolling over by herself! Also, you should have seen the look on his face when he asked how many hours she's been sleeping at night and I said "10." He looked absolutely stunned and then said "Are you serious?" I said yes! And then he replied with "What a little blessing she is!" And I very much agree. I would be crazy mom without my sleep. I don't know how you amazing mom's out there do it with babies who have issues sleeping. I would seriously be nut-so! Her 10 hours of sleep at night don't seem to be hurting her weight gain in the slightest. She's a big girl!

16.9lbs, 95%
25.5 in, 88%
head size 98%

She did really well with her shots. She hardly cried at all. Until we got home. She acted fine for a couple of hours and then she got really sad and cried for a good hour. I think her legs were really sore and despite being given infant Tylenol was running a low fever. She was running another low fever this morning but it went down after being given Tylenol. Poor baby. Darn immunizations.

We also discussed starting solid foods! I'm really excited! I don't think she's quite ready for them yet though. I definitely think it will be soon but not yet. Maybe I just want her to stay my little baby a little bit longer??

I want to make my own baby food. Troy and I have been trying to find ways to pinch our pennies lately. I think making food will help since we eat fruits, veggies and rice anyway it's one less thing to buy. Plus, I feel it's a healthier option. We'll see how it goes though! Do any of you mama's out there make your own baby food? I know there are a lot of doo-dads out there to make your own stuff. I've read mixed reviews and I don't want to spend a lot of money on something that isn't worth it. Your thoughts would be much appreciated!

Isabel: 4 months

2011-05-13T12:58:00.007-06:00

Dear Izzie,

You my little ray of sunshine are getting so big! I say that every month but you are no exception to the rule that babies grow. And grow you do! I'm guessing you're about 16lbs now. We'll find out for sure on Monday when you go in for your 4 month check up. Which I'll have you know I am dreading!

You've been giggling a little more and smiling more if that's even possible. You're always so happy unless we head to Grandma and Grandpa Jackson's. If that's the case you make the sweetest pouty face at both of them. You're really good at knowing when you have an exceptionally cute outfit on. Whenever I put you in something adorable you like to quickly put an end to my oohing and aahing of your cuteness and poop all over it. You've also become quite the multi-tasker. When you nurse you like to try to suck your thumb at the same time. You love sucking your thumb and all of your fingers too. You try to shove your whole fist in your mouth until gag yourself. You've discovered that you can yell. You love yelling at everyone. It's gleeful yelling so we adore it. You love dogs. You squeal with delight when you see them and follow them with your eyes every where they go. You're much more interactive now and enjoy playing with a few toys. This usually consists of you grabbing them, smiling and devouring. We think you're so great. We love you!

Love,
Mom

some clever motivational title

2011-05-11T14:24:00.004-06:00

I googled "no motivation" today and clicked on images. This is what I got.
I feel its very fitting. I'm actually really enjoying exercising 3-4 times per week. This whole 10k thing though... 6.2 miles? ugh.

I get so bored running! (to answer your question yes I have an awesome workout mix. It includes Ke$ha and Pitbull to name a few). I blame the weather. This weather has been super bi-polar so I've been doing all of my runs on the treadmill. I haven't ran in a week. I've tried switching it up with eliptical action, pilates and zumba! Zumba is fun but I am pretty sure I look like a retarded string bean. There was a 50 year old woman who could shake her groove thing better than I could. Kirsti my Zumba partner is moving to California next week. I am now currently taking applications for another Zumba partner if you're interested.

On a completely unrelated note, I switched my default photo viewer to Picasa and I am now totally regretting this decision. I don't know how to switch it back, so if you know, let me know!

Also, if you've seen my 10k motivation please return it promptly. Or maybe you could just find a T-rex to chase me on the day of the run? Either really.

Mama's Day

2011-05-09T10:34:00.002-06:00

It was my very first official Mother's Day yesterday. Before I go on and talk about my Mother's Day I just wanted to say that I have the greatest mom! I also have the greatest mother-in-law! They have both taught me so much and have been great examples of how to be a good mom. Thanks moms!

I spent the day singing in church for the Mother's Day program and cuddling my baby. My dear sweet husband and daughter got me a beautiful necklace with their initials on it. I LOVE IT.

I can't believe how much my life changed the moment this little girl arrived in my life. I don't even know how to explain to you in words how different my life has become, unless you are also a parent. Being a mom is the hardest job I've ever had. It's 24/7, rain or shine, in sickness or health. Those first two weeks I wasn't sure I'd survive. I never knew I could be so tired. I'm so glad I chose to breastfeed but I struggled, it hurt. Breastfeeding made the sleep deprivation worse because you don't get a break. I didn't get to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time for weeks. I cried all of the time. I couldn't have made it through without my husband, my family and lots of prayer.

I get puked on multiple times every day. I go out in public with puke on my clothes constantly. I get pooped on pretty regularly as well. Troy and I don't get to decide how late we stay out somewhere or sometimes if we get to go out at all. Our whole world revolves around this tiny person. Her wants, her needs come first. I know that a lot of this sounds awful. There have been days that I've been depressed as I've tried to adjust to my new life. All of the hard stuff has been so worth it. I love when I get up in the morning to get my daughter from her crib and her face lights up when she sees me. I love that I'm the one who comforts her most. I love her laugh. I love everything about her.

Being a parent has taught me humility. I can't do this alone. I am imperfect. There are days I don't feel well or lack patience. I pray and find the patience I need or someone comes to my rescue. It has taught me to find joy in simple things. A laugh, a smile, a silly noise. It has also taught me how to serve.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to be a mother. This little girl has turned my world upside down and it has made me all the better.

Thanks for making me a mom izzie.

Tummy Time

2011-04-26T20:19:00.002-06:00

Look who has mastered tummy time! And drooling too!

10k update

2011-04-21T12:43:00.004-06:00

I figured that I should update you (whoever you are) about my 10k training. I'm still training. I've decided to throw out my training schedule I had and do it my way. I'm going a little (a lot) slower than my original 10k plan. No worries though my race isn't until the end of July. I hadn't really exercised my entire pregnancy. That first day of training kicked my butt. It's hard getting back after just having a baby. But I've improved! I can now run 2 miles and still feel good after! And I've shaved 3 minutes off of my mile! I can also do 30 push ups! They're girl push ups but who cares? You should have seen me on day one! My little arms barely even able to bend more than 2 inches and feeling like my face was about to explode. And now I can do 30 decent ones! I've also lost 14 pounds. Unfortunately, I've still got some poundage to lose... let's just say I had no problem gaining weight during my pregnancy.

so there you have it. go me!

Dear Blog,

2011-04-18T14:57:00.002-06:00

I tried to make you look better. I only made you look worse. I give up.

Love,
Leslie

*update (later that night)* I didn't quite give up.... after some googling (I don't think that's actually a verb. eh. oh well.) I figured out how to center my header picture! I know a lot of my friends have been frustrated with off center headers. So here is the secret....

Design > Template Designer > Advanced (on left) > Add CSS (bottom of Advanced list).

In the Add custom CSS box, add some style for the image:

#Header1_headerimg {margin:0 auto;}

The preview should show the change. If you cut and paste above, it may not show. Add some letters (kjh) after } and as soon as the preview shows, delete the letters.

Click APPLY TO BLOG.

View the blog.

I in no way take credit for this. It was thanks to some message board dude. Thanks message board dude.

3?

2011-04-16T21:28:00.004-06:00

Izzie turned 3 months on Tuesday... I'm behind.

Izzie,

3 months? What? You're getting sooo big! All you do is smile lately. In fact I've finally been able to catch a few of those smiles on camera. We have to be sneaky though because as soon we whip out the camera you get this strange look on your face. You chew on your hands all day and you have a constant wet spot down the front of your shirt from all your drool. We think you've already started teething. I'm so not prepared for that. You are probably the best sleeper in the whole world. And I realize how I might jinx myself saying that... But seriously you are. You sleep about 10 hours a night. You love sitting up and you're so close to rolling over. You've started giggling and it's the cutest thing I've ever heard. You talk all the time and you make all sorts of squeals, yells and sounds. You let everyone know you are here with that tiny voice of yours. Strangers absolutely adore you. We actually had a lady stalk us at the grocery store. She stopped both me and your dad separately and told us how cute you were. When she stopped me she stood there and stared at you for a good minute until I awkwardly said "Well... see you later." I really can't blame her though. I've never seen such a beautiful baby either. We're so in love with you.

Love,
Mom

Blessing Day

2011-04-11T13:46:00.007-06:00

We had Isabel blessed on Sunday. Troy did an amazing job. Oh, I love him. I decided last minute to forgo the traditional blessing dress. They're all too long and ruffly for my taste. Instead Izzie wore a simple white sundress with grey and white striped ruffle bum tights. She was to.die.for.adorable.

Thanks to everyone who came! We love you all!

Conference

2011-04-08T12:13:00.004-06:00

Conference was this past weekend and I had been waiting and waiting for the church's website to post these two conference talks that I loved so I could read them and learn all over again.

The first is by Elder Cook, LDS Women Are Incredible
The second is by Elder Scott, The Eternal Blessings of Marriage

In case you missed them... I think you should read them! If you're like me I've never stayed awake for all 4 sessions of conference. I always managed to fall asleep during at least one session...usually more than that. I did better this year though!

Now I'm going to go read the talks that I missed! Have a great day!

4

2011-04-06T11:12:00.004-06:00

I've never been tagged before... I feel like the cool kid in school. Thanks Sarah!

4 shows I watch...

1. Grey's Anatomy - I've been obsessed since season uno
2. Teen Mom- I love other peoples drama
3. Jersey Shore- My guilty pleasure and Troy's too. We laugh at the stupidity.
4. Top Chef- I want to be a chef. I looove cooking.

4 things I'm passionate about...

1. Singing- I'm not the greatest but I love how it makes me feel when I do
2. My little family- I love them so
3. Cooking- If only I had more time and more $ for all things I want to cook!
4. being a good mom and wife

4 phrases I say a lot...

1. boo- I say this whenever I think something is lame
2. I love you, have a good day, be safe- I say this to my husband every day as he walks out the door
3. You are the prettiest baby in the whole world!- I really can't even count how many times I say this a day. But have you seen my daughter?? I don't think I say it enough :)
4. You're a bum- it's practically a term of endearment for my husband.

4 things you've learned from the past...

1. mistakes make us who we are
2. stuff happens
3. time heals everything
4. always tell the people you love how much you care. You never know if it could be the last time you see them.

4 things I did yesterday...

1. made a delicious bruschetta
2. cleaned poop out of 3 outfits from 3 separate blow out diapers
3. took a nap
4. did the dishes

4 places I would love to visit...

1. Italy- the mecca of Italian food (duh). I should have been Italian.
2. Greece- it looks so beautiful
3. Hawaii
4. New York

4 things I'm looking forward to...

1. watching Izzie grow up
2. Troy's graduation
3. buying a house
4. Troy coming home

4 things I love about spring...

1. tree blossoms
2. tulips
3. flip flops
4. longer days

I'm tagging....

1. Lisa Manning
2. Heather Barclay
3. Mallory Moon
4. Shelly Ellis

Nursey

2011-04-04T13:40:00.009-06:00

I realized that I had promised a few people that I would post picture's of Izzie's nursery when it was finished. And it was finished months ago... Sorry!

I had these birds custom made to match her room.

My amazing friend Michelle made this diaper basket to match!

The changing area

My sister in law sewed all of the bedding

I also made felt bird mobile that was inspired by this but I didn't want to spend that kind of money. And mine only cost me $10 to make! I really love how everything turned out. As usual everything looks better in person. I love that no one else has anything like it and I designed it all myself. I feel pretty proud. I'm still looking for the perfect vinyl tree (at the right price) to put on the boring white walls.

feeling single

2011-03-23T15:31:00.004-06:00

My husband left me yesterday. Ok, not left me, left me. He left for a mountain biking trip and will return Saturday. Hopefully in one piece... or maybe not. He did leave me for the rest of the week.

I don't do well by myself. I hate every second of it. Which is weird. Being an only child I feel like maybe I should be able handle my husband being gone for 4 days. Alas, I am a needy people person. I may have gotten a little over emotional the night before he left when I thought about having to sleep alone for the next 3 nights.

I pray Saturday comes quickly.

Single parenting really isn't my style.

photo post

2011-03-21T10:49:00.022-06:00

Since my computer problems are fixed. I'm finally able to put up the pictures of Izzie from my camera. Here she is from 3 days to 2 months. You can see how much she's changed!

3 days old

napping with dad

wrinkly newborn baby feet

8 days old

rocker baby, 2 weeks

3 weeks old

first day of church, 4 weeks old

church again, 5 weeks

fresh from the bath in our monster towel, 5 weeks

smiling in her sleep, 6 weeks

bear suit

gangsta

she is the prettiest baby!

tummy time!

another bear suit

this is what happens when I leave Izzie alone with dad and a dry erase marker...

more nap time with dad

my poor (chunky) baby

2011-03-16T14:28:00.002-06:00

Today Izzie went to the doctor for her two month check up. The doctor is very impressed with her development. He commented on her "very good eye contact" and he was impressed with how chatty she is. She weighed in at a whopping 13lbs (93%) 23in for height (71%) and her head is in the 92%. She is a growing baby!

and then she got shots. boo.

She cried and had BIG tears. She's never cried with tears before. I can tell she doesn't feel good now. She's been crying on and off all day. I'm letting her sleep a lot. Hopefully I don't regret this tonight. When I picked her up to change her I forgot and touched her sore leg. She started crying again. I felt so bad. I almost started crying too.

We (Izzie and I) hate shots.

Isabel: two months

2011-03-12T14:26:00.005-07:00

Oh my little munchkin!

You have grown so much this pass month. At six weeks we had to start putting you in your three month clothes because I could no longer squeeze you in to your newborn clothes. You're becoming quite the chunk and I'm loving all of your little rolls and dimples.

Your smiling, oohing and aahing is an every day thing now. You talk and smile so much. Often times I find you smiling and talking to yourself in your crib. You especially love talking to your dad when he comes home from work. You've also started to giggle in your sleep and I wonder all of the time what you could possibly be dreaming about. When you're awake you try to laugh. You will get a big smile on your face and do a quick "Ha!"

You're sleeping a little better at night but I'm still longing for the days when you'll sleep through the night. You have also started to sleep in your own room this month.

I love how you recognize mine and your dads voices. If someone else is holding you and you hear one of our voices you immediately turn your head to look for us. And as of today you have officially discovered your right hand. You keep bringing your hand to your mouth to suck on it, where as before if you ever sucked on your fingers it was by accident.

You keep learning, growing and getting more cute every day! We love you so much.

Love,
Mom

Here you are today on your 2 month birthday!

Scary Movies

2011-03-07T11:18:00.004-07:00

I used to LOVE scary movies. I remember back in junior high school going to Top Hat with my best friend Bekah and renting scary movies every weekend. As I got older and in high school I started loving scary movies for a different reason. It gave me an excuse to snuggle up close to a cute boy.
Now that I'm married and I don't need an excuse to cuddle with my husband I've tried to avoid scary movies. I think we've watched a total of 3 scary movies since we've been married. Saturday night Troy made me watch the scariest movie I've ever seen. Call me a baby... whatever. But movies that could actually happen in real life freak me out the most.

The past 2 nights I've spent jumping at every creak and pop our house has made imagining there are 3 masked murders waiting to jump out and kill my family.

Good job movie maker people, you officially freaked me out.

BHAG

2011-02-28T11:58:00.002-07:00

My friend Sarah Jolley has inspired me. For one of her classes she has to do a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) so she is running the SLC half marathon. I would link the post to her blog but sorry dude's her blog is private and only cool peeps like me get to read it :) But you can read about her running journey here. I think her running blog idea is super cute!

Since having a baby has done absolutely nothing good for my thighs and/or abdomen I need to get back in shape. So I have decided to do a BHAG of my own and run a 10k. I know, not quite as audacious as Sarah's half marathon, but I suppose I am not as audacious as Sarah. It seems I am in fact about 7 miles less audacious.

I start my 8 week training today! Today I run 1.5 miles and since I haven't ran at all in over a year... I'm a little nervous. I know it's going to suck.

I wish chubby was "in". But then again I'd have to buy a whole new wardrobe...

Thankful

2011-02-28T11:13:00.005-07:00

I just had to publicly thank my Heavenly Father for always looking out for my little family. I don't really want to get in to all of the details here on the ol' blog. But I just wanted to let you know, that I know He knows who I am, He knows my needs and my struggles and I know He loves me. One of my favorite scriptures is D&C 25:12 Since I cannot always speak as eloquently as I would like to express my gratitude... This song will have to do.

My Shepherd will supply my need:

Jehovah is His Name;

In pastures fresh He makes me feed,

Beside the living stream.

He brings my wandering spirit back

When I forsake His ways,

And leads me, for His mercy's sake,

In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death,

Thy presence is my stay;

A word of Thy supporting breath

Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,

Doth still my table spread;

My cup with blessings overflows,

Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God

Attend me all my days;

O may Thy house be my abode,

And all my work be praise

There would I find a settled rest,

While others go and come;

No more a stranger, nor a guest,

But like a child at home.

--My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, Isaac Watts

free time

2011-02-22T13:54:00.004-07:00

My little munchkin is currently in the kitchen in her swing taking a nap looking like this....

So I thought... free time! I should blog. Now I'm here... blogging. I have nothing to even talk about. So for journaling purposes...

Isabel's Birth Story

The 11th was my due date and I was pretty depressed because I was convinced that I was going to have to be induced. Little did I know when I went to bed that night that I would go into labor. Troy had just started school and had 7:30am class so we had tried to go to bed early. I had a hard time going to sleep that night. I probably fell asleep sometime around midnight.
I woke up about 1:30am because I was uncomfortable. I thought I just had a really full bladder since lately if my bladder got too full it would start to be uncomfortable. I got up to go to the bathroom. I went pee and because I was so tired I just kinda sat there for a second afterward. All of a sudden I heard this gush of water or pee pour out of me. I thought "Did I just pee again?" I sat on the toilet really confused for a minute. I stood up to look in the toilet and all I could tell was that I had peed. I just stood there with my pants around my ankles trying to decide if my water had broken or if I no longer had control of my own bladder anymore. That's when I felt it again and pink tinged water dribbled down my leg. I was pretty sure my water had broken at that point but I was still not 100% sure, I wasn't having contractions. I decided to wake up Troy and call the doctor.

I called the doctor and they told me to come to the hospital. After I hung up I was pretty positive my water had broken for real. Troy and I tried to get everything we needed in disarray. We were tired and unprepared, we both had assumed I'd have to be induced. We drove to the hospital and I still wasn't having contractions. The hospital admitted me about 2am. I asked the nurse if I could take a shower. I hadn't showered all day and if people were going to be all up in my business I wanted to be clean. Of course I had forgotten shampoo and conditioner and the hospital only had conditioner. I ended up having to wash my hair with liquid hand soap. But it was better than greasy nasty hair.

My contractions started while I was in the shower. I have never been against an epidural or anything but I had always wanted to see how "tough" I was and to put off the epidural as long as possible. By 4am my contractions were pretty painful and while I could still breathe through them I knew I wouldn't be able to much longer. So the anesthesiologist came and gave me an epidural. My whole body was shaking because I was so nervous but according to Troy and the anesthesiologist I "took it like a champ." I had no adverse side effects from the epidural and after that everything was great. I tried to sleep but I had too much anxiety.

After 14 hours of labor I was fully dialated but Isabel's head still wasn't quite far down enough and she hadn't made any progress in several hours (I would find out later it was because she had a really big head). So I ended up having to push her down the birth canal. Pushing is some crazy hard work! It took me a little bit to figure out the whole pushing thing. I had a patient controlled epidural and was able to keep it pretty light. I was able to still feel my contractions and I still had some use of my legs. I was soo worried about pooping during delivery. The nurse finally told me that having a baby felt like if I was "constipated" and that it probably would feel like I was pooping my pants (or in my case lack of pants). I had to get over the fact that I might poop. And just in case you were wondering... I didn't!

I pushed for 2.5 hours and I got to a point where I was starting to be unsure if I would last much longer. The nurse finally told me it was time for the doctor to come and I was so relieved. I love love love my doctor. The doctor arrived about 5:30pm and Isabel was born at 5:59pm and 59 seconds. I had a mirror and was able to watch the whole process. It was the the coolest thing I've ever seen. That's when things went momentarily scary.

The nurse and my doctor kept telling me about how after I delivered they would put Isabel on my stomach and wipe her off and then they wanted me to have skin to skin contact with her. Isabel came out and they put her on my stomach. Troy cut the cord and my nurse and Dr. Holmes started wiping her off but she had yet to cry. They kept wiping and rubbing and saying things like "come on little girl." The pediatric nurse asked Dr. Holmes "Do you need me to take her?" There was a nod and someone flipped a switch and 4 other nurses came running in. Troy and I lost it. I honestly couldn't tell you how long it took for them to get her to breathe, it felt like forever. All I know is the second that she finally cried was the best feeling in the world. After that they took her to the special care nursery to be monitored. Troy went with her and after a half an hour they finally brought her to me and I was able to hold her for the first time.

The whole experience was so surreal. I still think it's insane that I have a baby but I'm pretty glad she is mine.

Isabel: one month

2011-02-16T10:52:00.003-07:00

I've been missing from the blogging world. Newborn babies are time consuming, who'd have thought?

Izzie,
You turned one month on the 12th! It has definitely been the craziest month of my life. There was a lot of eating, pooping, hiccups and crying. A lot of crying on both of our parts. Figuring out a baby is hard and I think it's been hard for you to figure out this world. It's been amazing to watch you learn even the most simple of things.

You grunt every day, especially when you're hungry. You hate hiccups and your carseat. You hardly ever let me put you down. You prefer to be held so you're in a sitting position. Last week you started ooing and aahing. Not all the time but I've loved listening to you talk (and so has your dad and both grandmas). You have started to figure out how to smile. Especially these last couple days which I guess is technically your second month of life but either way I love it.

You're a pretty good sleeper. At two weeks you started sleeping about 5 hours a night. You have your nights of course like all babies do but you do pretty well. You also LOVE to eat and suck on everything. Since I'm breastfeeding you, I wanted to postpone giving you a binky for the first couple of weeks like all of the breastfeeding specialists recommend. Except you constantly have to suck so by day 3 I gave in. You and your binky have been best friends ever since. You are most certainly a cuddler just like me and I've enjoyed every second of cuddling you. You also got to meet your best friend Addie for the first time. You guys just layed there together but Lisa and I are pretty sure you'll be fast friends.

I'm looking forward to month two and what it will bring and just to watch you learn more. Please go easy on your old mom though... I'm still new at this :)

Love, Mom

Initiated

2011-02-02T16:31:00.002-07:00

Today is momentous.

In my opinion at least.

Today I feel like I was officially initiated in to motherhood.

Sure, in these last 3 weeks I've popped a baby out of me, been at my wits end with a screaming newborn, haven't gotten more than a solid 4 hours of sleep, been pooped on, peed on, puked on, etc... but none of that made me feel more like a mom than today.

After burping my sleepy babe just after a feeding there was puke... everywhere. So while I was cleaning up myself and her, I laid her down on my lap. The old familiar sound of a freshly soiled diaper rang through the air. I thought nothing of it, finished cleaning Izzie's face and picked her up to continue the burping. Only to discover her entire back was covered and I mean covered in poop. Her brand new white jammies, the color of mustard.

I took Izzie to the changing table trying my best not to contaminate the just washed cover (side note: I know it's a changing table cover and meant to be gross-i-fied but I had just washed it). All while doing this I must have jostled Izzie a little too much because she starts spitting up again. She starts to choke a little on her puke, so I have to pick up her naked only halfway clean body and have to pat her poop covered back all the while she was puking on me. I was literally waiting for her to pee on me.

No worries. I was laughing at myself the entire time.

So there you have it.

Official mom, signing off.

Help

2011-02-01T13:45:00.003-07:00

Today I am blogging with a baby on my belly. I love that these days I can say ON and not in my belly. My poor little girl has not been feeling well. I can hear her stomach gurgle with gas and everything I've tried to help relieve it has not worked. The only way I can get to her to sleep is resting on my stomach. Which I love but really inhibits any ideas of productivity I may have had.

I'm mildly lactose intolerant, but a terrible lactose intolerant person. Dairy is definitely my favorite food group and I haven't given it up...ever. I think the uh...effects... bother my husband more than they do me.

Today I'm starting for one week (longer if it works) a completely dairy free diet. Which I'm completely and terribly depressed about. I'm just hoping (and also selfishly hoping dairy isn't the cause) this will help Izzie feel better. I literally eat cheese and yogurt every day. I really can't think of much of anything I eat that doesn't have dairy...

I need food ideas. Preferably easy to fix. Please?

more pictures

2011-01-31T15:44:00.009-07:00

Since I have a very rare moment of silence I wanted to post while I could. Izzie is either getting colic or I think me eating dairy doesn't agree with her. She's been a very unhappy baby the last few days and it breaks my heart when she cries. Luckily she has started to sleep a little longer at night which helps the sometimes hours of crying during the day a little easier. I got the disc from Paige and here are a few of my favorite pictures of her! Enjoy!

Oh is my baby cute or what?

2 weeks

2011-01-27T12:53:00.003-07:00

My little Izzie turned two weeks yesterday. She also had her first doctors appointment. It was my first adventure out with Izzie on my own. I need to get me some muscles because lugging around that car seat was not as easy as I thought.

Her doctors appointment went really well! She's developing right on track! She's still measuring at 20.5in but now weighs 8lbs 13oz, I can't believe my baby is almost 9lbs! She's in the 67th percentile for height, 60th percentile for weight and her head circumference is in the 89th percentile. She has a big head just like her dad.

We also had newborn pictures taken on Saturday and you can get a sneak peak at Paige Davis Photography I think they turned out just awesome! And I'm excited to see the rest! I can't believe I made such a cute baby!

Also yesterday my best friend Lisa had her baby girl Addison! I'm so excited for our girls to meet and play together! Izzie and Addie BFFL. Sounds good to me!

Isabel Susanne Jackson

2011-01-20T19:13:00.009-07:00

Isabel Susanne Jackson

January 12, 2011

5:59pm 8lb 2oz 20.5 in

I went in to labor the night of my last post where I was complaining about due dates. My water broke at 1:30am conveniently enough after I had just peed and was still sitting on the toilet. I hadn't had any contractions yet so I was confused for a minute if my water had just broken or if I had just peed again without realizing it.

After 16.5 hours of labor, 2.5 of which were spent pushing, I had my sweet baby.

These past 8 days have been the most crazy 8 days of my life. I was (semi) prepared for the demand of a newborn but I had no idea the kind of toll labor and delivery has on a persons body. The combination of the two things, plus the lack of sleep and sore boobies from breastfeeding, it's been a bit of a rude awakening for me. Kudos to moms everywhere.

Despite all of this craziness and adjustment, as hard as it's been, Troy and I couldn't be more lucky. We have certainly been blessed.

Due Date

2011-01-11T11:34:00.002-07:00

Today is the day I've been looking towards for 9 months and my day of sanity I've been grasping on to for the last 3 months. Pregnancy isn't exactly my favorite thing in the world. I know that I'll do it again but if I could afford surrogacy I'd probably seriously consider it.

The crappy thing about due dates is they're just an educated guess. I've been trying not to focus too much on the actual day because I know this "day" was just a guess. I've come to my husband in tears several times because I don't think I can stand being pregnant any longer. I've tried doing anything I can think of to not think of the fact that I have not had my baby yet. As you can see it's not working.

I'm trying to be optimistic though and I am so glad that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If this baby hasn't made her debut by Monday evening they're going to induce me.

I would just like to say that pregnancy has really made me aware of how much I took my awesome non-pregnant body for granted.

Non pregnant bodies can do lots of things easily on a good day.
*They can roll over in bed without waking up to change positions
*Sleep on their stomachs
*Walk up a single flight of stairs without being winded
*Hug their husbands without something in the way
*go most days without a stuffy nose
*tie their shoes
*twist and bend without so much as a thought
*move without pain
*go hours without peeing
*wear their wedding ring because their hands haven't swelled to the size of small sausages

and many more things I just can't think of right now.

I know that this is almost over. I can make it a few a more days (hopefully I won't have to!). And to all of you I promise I will let you know when something happens. Promise. If you haven't heard anything... probably nothing has happened.

Send all birthing thoughts my way. I may go crazy before Monday.

passing time

2011-01-05T10:52:00.003-07:00

I wish I could say that I've been MIA in the internet world because I've been busy birthing a baby. Nope. I just haven't really felt like getting online. Which is weird, probably a good thing, but strange for me.

I am in my NINTH month of pregnancy. And feeling like I might explode/die. The end of a pregnancy is really quite tortuous. All I want to do is fall asleep on my stomach and be back to the days of only one human inhabiting this body and not two.

I've had several friends write blogs lately called "confessions" I enjoy these. And since apparently I'm in to crowd following...here are mine.

1. I got my first stretch marks last week, at 38 weeks. I cried.

2. I became disturbingly close to pooping my pants a few days ago. Luckily, I found a toilet just in time.

3. I've been unbearably selfish lately.

4. I'm too embaressed to admit the ungodly amount of sweets/treats I've consumed the past few
weeks.

5. Hopefully this won't offend anyone... But I dislike it when people ask me "How is the baby doing?" I always give the same response, "Fine." How should I know?

6. There are some people I really just don't want to talk with about my cervix.

7. It also bugs me when people ask "When are you going to have this baby? I really want to see/meet her!" I can assure you if I had ANY control over it she'd already be here and I'm 110% positive I want to see/meet her 758 times more than you do.

8. I've given up on doing my hair. I rock a pony tail pretty much every day.

9. I know this post makes me sound like a beast...with bowel problems.

Christmas!

2010-12-27T16:14:00.002-07:00

Troy and I had a fanstastic Christmas! We spent most of it with his family this year (we switch off) but spent the morning with my mom to open presents. My mom as usual spoiled us. She knew we had been wanting a camcorder for when the baby comes so when she asked us what we wanted I suggested she could just give us some money to put towards the camcorder since thats what we were planning on getting ourselves for christmas. Instead she just went ahead and bought us one!

Troy also spoiled me. He was a big cheater face this Christmas. We had both talked about only getting each other one present this year and not to do anything extravagent since the baby and tuition are due pretty much the same time. So I followed through on the plan... and bought him Oregon Duck sweat pants and milk duds. And what did Troy do? He got me a cd, Inception and the 6th seasons of Grey's and The office and like 10 bags of my favorite candies. And so that it would fit the criteria of "one gift" he put it all in one box. And I gave him sweat pants... I felt like a lousy wife. A lucky wife, but a lousy one.

I really had a great Christmas. I had a lot of fun spending time with family and playing my two most favorite games, Wackee 6 and Catch Phrase. I get really excited when I play those games. I get really competitive even though I'm pretty terrible at Wackee 6. I'm so grateful for my family! I coudn't ask for anything more! Except maybe for this baby to hurry up and join the fam.

Well done

2010-12-20T13:58:00.002-07:00

I am officially 37 weeks today! Which for those of you who don't know is considered full term. Pregnancy is technically about 40 weeks long but I guess at 37 weeks the baby is "cooked" enough to be not considered "pre-term" if she were to be born today.

My lungs are smooshed, I've begun retaining water to the point I feel like an indoor swimming pool, and my belly is about as stretched as it can go. So baby... it's time to get out. You've over stayed your welcome in my uterus. I'd appreciate it if you'd hurry up.

Your dad and I are very much ready to meet you.

And if you come before the new year... We'll be able to claim you on our 2010 taxes and I'll buy you a nice present with the extra money from our tax return! How is that for incentive, eh?

36 week appointment

2010-12-16T14:33:00.004-07:00

I don't have much to do these days... or much to talk about. So I apologize for the overload of baby Jackson posts. But since I don't really keep a journal, this is pretty much it. Here's another one, I'll keep it short I promise.

I had a doctors appointment yesterday. I've hit the point in my pregnancy where I start going weekly now. I got the dreaded GBS swab, I was freaking out before because of where I heard that they swabbed you. Fortunately, it wasn't as bad as I made it out to be in my head.

Then she performed an ultrasound to make sure that the baby had finally flipped head down like I thought she had. To my great relief she had! And then I asked her to check and make sure this little girl is in fact a little girl. I've been so nervous because when we had our "big" ultrasound neither the tech nor the doctor sounded very confident when they said it was a girl.
Forgive me for not putting much faith in "It's a.... It's a girl? wait.... no, yeah... it's a girl."

So she checked and even I could tell she's a little girl. We tried to see her face but she had her hands right up in front of her face and her face is towards my back. We got a sort of a side shot but the picture makes her look like an alien. You can't even tell what your looking at.

Then she checked my cervix and I've only dialated to 1/2 a centimeter, but I'm 60% effaced. I think thats pretty good for 36 weeks.

Everything looks great and the doctor said now it's just a waiting game.

So we wait....

57 years

2010-12-13T22:15:00.003-07:00

There is this old man that I work with at the rec center. When I say old I mean OLD. He's like 86-89 years old. I can't exactly remember. I know for sure he's in his 80's. He does some of the janitorial work around the rec center. Let me tell you about him.

His name is Dean and he pretty much makes my day every time I see him. He's always so happy and kind even though he cleans windows and sorts through the nasty lost and found items. He also whistles when he says his s's which I can't help but smile every time. He also brings the front desk a huge handful of fun size candy bars every time he works. One day while at work I got assigned to this ridiculous task of making these ginormous signs for Spooktacular. I was basically 7 months pregnant and had to be on my hands and knees taping these huge sheets of paper together to make an even bigger piece of paper of 96 inches by 112 inches. I was on my hands and knees on a concrete floor taping them together. And who came along to offer me some help? 80-something Dean! He got down on his hands and knees and helped me tape these papers together. I felt almost guilty accepting his offer but he seemed to be more capable than me!

The other day he came to empty the lost and found bin and I asked him how long he had been married for.

57 years.

57 YEARS.

I know my next question was probably stupid but I couldn't help but wonder...
me: "And you still like her?"
dean: "oh yes, she's a sweetheart. I think I'll keep her."

And I knew he meant it. Not just one of those things you say to someone because the real answer would be awkward. I know that being in love and being married forever is a very possible thing but I have to admit that I don't know very many people who have been married for 57 years.

I have every hope and desire for this kind of longevity with my marriage. In fact, I want it for forever.

I think my next question I'll ask is, how does one stay married and in love for 57 years?

If you blog it...They will come.

2010-12-09T18:13:00.009-07:00

My last post I said I had no pictures of me because my friends hadn't posted any as of yet so I was just waiting on them. And voila! Both friends posted pictures. And no I assure you I am not having twins (I was asked that today) I've just gotten HUGE in the last month. So here I am in all of my large whale-ish glory....

me and one of my best friends Lisa who is due 2 weeks after me!

5 of the 6 of us from high school

I look ginormous in this picture but I had to post it because my husband is so darn cute

And these last 2 were taken of me today at 35 1/2 weeks
Look how much I've grown since month seven!

Although I've basically lost my waist you can see I'm pretty much just carrying this little girl out in front. Which according to a man named Roger who comes in to my work is how he could tell I was having a girl. He's kind of crazy so I attribute his correctness to a 50% shot at getting it right.

month 8

2010-12-06T19:20:00.002-07:00

I would just like to point to the little count down ticker thing to your right....

5 more weeks! whoa! I can't believe I'm 35 weeks.

Every day I think to myself, "There is no way I can get any bigger or more uncomfortable." And then it only takes until the next day for me to get bigger and more uncomfortable.

Some of the things people say to me a lot are....
"You just keep getting bigger!"
"Wow! You're huge."
"You're looking good!"
"I think you're going to pop!"
"You look uncomfortable."

Some of these things I'm not really sure how to respond. "You look uncomfortable" Um... thank you?

Since I work in customer service I get a lot of random advice from people I've never seen before in my life. I also think it's funny when I help other women who are also pregnant and they start talking to me like we're best friends.

Right now....
I love apples.
I crave salad.
I walk really incredibly slow.
Walking short distances puts me out of breath.
Sometimes when I eat I feel like I'm going to puke because I'm so full.
I get an insane amount of braxton hicks which my doctor doesn't seem worried about. It just bugs me because every time I have a contraction it makes me need to pee. And walk weird.
My baby has yet to (and hopefully won't) kick me in the ribs.
She does however enjoy kicking me in what I think is my ovary. It hurts.
She still moves a ton and some how manages to switch from my right side to my left about every other day. I'm not sure how she does I just know that my stomach moves a lot when she does this.
I sleep with 5 pillows.
I take a nap every day.

And I haven't taken any pictures of myself but my friends have (you know who you are) and I'm waiting for them to post them so I can....ahem.

A bit behind...

2010-12-01T11:52:00.002-07:00

All of my friends wrote posts about what they are thankful for during Thanksgiving and I wanted to do the same but now it's December 1st... oops.

I'm thankful for...
My amazing/incredible/fantastic/sweet/loving/generous/sexy husband
My happy marriage
Family + Friends
the wonderful FREE country I have the opportunity to live in.
those in the military who help keep our country free.
My house
My 2 dogs
Having 2 working vehicles
Leisure time
My education
A warm bed
Food in my cupboards
Our jobs
Health Insurance
the ability to grow human life
medical advances
nap time
indoor plumbing

Plus 1001 other things!

2010-11-17T13:38:00.002-07:00

I'm really not trying to copy my friend Lisa's "things that must go" post. I was planning on doing an "I'm so over..." post before I read hers. Plus, Lisa is copying Radio From Hell so I don't feel that bad :)

I'm SO over....

aching feet
aching back
acid reflux
feeling ginormous
crappy sleep
back acne
body parts jabbing me (painfully) in random places
braxton hicks
wearing the same 4 outfits over and over
feeling tired all the time
always feeling much too warm
people asking me every day "how are you feeling?" I get the gesture, it's nice and thank you but I feel fine enough to do whatever it is I'm doing. So please stop asking.

In other news, I had another doctors appointment today and everything still looks great. I still seem to be right on track with everything. However, my doctor did give me some pretty shocking news... like send me into mini panic attack mode, shocking.

She told me that once I hit 34 weeks which is a little less than 2 weeks away... IF I go in to labor they won't do anything to intervene to prevent me from giving birth. AAHH!!

I know that most likely I will not go in to labor at 34 weeks, but still it made me think... in 2 weeks I could have a baby! AAHH!!! We don't even have a crib yet! On the way back from our appointment I was a little panicky about how unprepared we are to have a baby in 2 weeks. Troy had to remind that I'm due in a little less than 8 weeks and not 2 weeks. Which made me feel a little better.

Until he said, "But just in case... you should probably pack your hospital bag."

Good grief. With all of this anxiety this news has caused me I'll probably send myself in to early labor.

What a beautiful mess I'm in...

2010-11-11T19:47:00.006-07:00

I'm pretty darn lucky because this guy married me....

We've had a lot of surprises these past 8 months. Some good, some bad. It's taken a lot of adjustment for both of us. There have been a lot of tears (mostly on my part) but Troy has always kept me looking on the bright side and laughing. He's been so great to me during the pregnancy too. Even when I'm having a ridiculous mood swing and I'm being rather unpleasant he just laughs at me instead of being offended.

Even with everything going on and all of the things we have to figure out I wouldn't change a thing as long as I can have him by my side. We have so much to be grateful for. And we're so grateful and so excited for our biggest surpise to join us in SIXTY DAYS!!!

Finally finished!

2010-11-08T10:22:00.006-07:00

I've had a few friends who wanted see a picture of the Halloween costume I made (but never wore). I was so sad I didn't get to wear it because I worked really hard on it but luckily it only cost me the price of an extra large roll of bargain brand aluminum foil :) so here it is... my bun in the oven costume.

And then remember this...

Well now it looks like this....
I was originally planning on using a lot more glaze but I ended up really liking the look of the antique white paint. So I did a very light coat of glaze, just enough to make the little details stand out better. The picture doesn't quite do it justice.

Month Seven

2010-10-25T11:01:00.004-06:00

I've been in my seventh month and my third trimester for a whole week now. Other than I feel huge and my wardrobe selections are really starting to dwindle I feel great for a pregnant woman! Well I am getting pretty uncomfortable. I would be lying if I said I feel 100% great. Apparently my round ligaments hate being pregnant. They're pulled and tired and painful. I had a doctor's appointment last wednesday where my awesome doctor Dr. Holmes informed me my pubic bone is spreading. Gag me! That happens?? Which she told me can be very painful to some people. You are looking at the lucky some!

I'm just not looking forward to getting bigger and more uncomfortable. I already feel like a whale. 11 more weeks!

Here I am at 29 weeks (7 months)

And look who found her camera!! Now I just need to find the charger...

And on my camera I found this awesome picture of me at 5 months...and I thought I looked pregnant...ha!
My butt totally fills out those pants now. I have a butt for the first time in my life!

FYI

2010-10-22T11:29:00.002-06:00

I don't mind if someone asks to feel my stomach to feel the baby.

However...

If you come up to me and put both hands on my stomach and proceed to stick your face an inch from my stomach and then start talking baby talk to the baby (aka my stomach).It's just weird. It also makes me feel reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally uncomfortable.

And I will remove your hands.
And your face.
And back away.

Even if I know you pretty well. Just don't do it.

Unless, you are my husband.
But he doesn't even do this.

Before....

2010-10-18T11:20:00.005-06:00

I know that I've talked about before how I looove blogs about re-doing old furniture. I've read and read and read about how to do it. And now I can finally say that I've done it!!

Troy and I finally have matching dressers for our bedroom! And it was suuper cheap! One of my best friends mom gave us these dressers for *free* because they didn't need them anymore. And with all of the supplies we needed to get plus the hardware it ended up costing us $70. That's $35 dollars a dresser! Dare I say thrifty??

Before....
After!...
Yes there are 2 of them but they look pretty much identical so I only took the picture of the one. Troy's dresser has a fan on top and Oregon Duck memorabilia (what else?). The dressers were in really good condition and we only had to do a few minor fixes that my super handy husband fixed right up! I really can't take too much credit for these dressers. I did help out with the sanding and I picked out the pulls. But it was Troy who painted and distressed the dressers. I think he did a fantastic job! Isn't he great? I do also have to give some thanks to my father in law who helped Troy drill the holes for the for the handles!

I do have one more dresser project that is in the works. It's for the baby's room and all that really needs to be done is some holes drilled for the new handles and then it'll be finished. It's been that way for a few weeks now. We've been a little slow but as for right now we have no where to put it until our spare room gets cleaned out. So it's patiently waiting in Troy's parents garage. And that project I can take most of the credit for!!

Here's a teaser for the before....

I painted it a vintage white and glazed it with a light brown. So far I love how it turned out!!

Reminders

2010-10-09T13:20:00.001-06:00

I read this today, and I really liked it.

"The seeming flat periods of life give us a blessed chance to reflect upon what is past as well as to be readied for some rather stirring climbs ahead. Instead of grumbling and murmuring, we should be consolidating and reflecting, which would not happen if life were an uninterrupted sequence of fantastic scenery, confrontive events, or exhilarating conversation.

Patience helps us to use, rather than protest, these seeming flat periods of life, becoming filled with quiet wonder over the past and with anticipation for that which may lie ahead, instead of demeaning the particular flatness through which we may be passing at the time.

We should savor even the seemingly ordinary times, for life cannot be made up of all kettledrums and crashing cymbals. There must be some flutes and violins. Living cannot be all crescendo; there must be some counterpoint."

-Neal A Maxwell, Patience 1979

sleep?

2010-10-08T12:36:00.002-06:00

Where has my sleep gone? That's what I want to know. Last I checked I'm not expecting a baby until January... I thought I might be able to get a couple months of sleep in before that. I suppose I was wrong.

This child never stops kicking me. All night long she's rolling around or kicking me. All day long it's the same thing. When she finally stops I start getting paranoid because her movements are so constant that the silence in my belly makes me think something is wrong. So then again I can't sleep.

Also, my doctor thinks I pulled a muscle or a ligament in my groin/lower abdominal region or possibly gave myself an early hernia. So every time I need to change positions in the middle of the night it's really painful. Which also isn't exactly helpful to my sleep either.

Not to mention the middle of the night bathroom breaks that have gone from one to two trips in the past few days.

So long sleep. I will miss you for the next 30 years...

2010-10-04T11:05:00.004-06:00

I had a pretty great weekend! Minus the part where I only saw my husband (awake) for about 5 hours out of a total of 48 hours. Saturday and Sunday Troy worked at the church office building doing all the catering deliveries for Conference. Friday night we had a date night which was really fun. We made breakfast for dinner together. He made the stuff for breakfast burritos and I made mini pancake muffins which I got from bakerella. It was delicious! Then we went and saw The Social Network at the new old gateway 8 in bountiful. Troy and I love going there now that it's been updated. Movies are $6 a person! We both thought the movie was pretty interesting.

I looooove spending time with Troy and we don't get to do it as often now that school has started again and he has all night classes.

On Thursday night my mom and I went to the Farmer's Market in Bountiful where we bought the cutest baby booties that will be perfect for a blessing dress!

I know it sounds weird but these booties have made it more real to me that I'm having a baby. More real than all of the clothes I've gotten, or the dresser I've redone (pictures to come!), the blankets, even more real than the constant kicking and rolling in my stomach. These have been sitting on my dresser the past few days and every time I see them I have a mini panic attack. Little tiny baby feet are going to go in there! Little tiny baby feet that belong to a real baby who will be m.i.n.e. forever. For-ev-er. I can't even begin to describe the mix of feelings I have between being completely petrified and pure joy.

I've also finally decided on bedding. Since apparently I am more picky than the average human being and unwilling to spend $200+ on bedding I have decided to make my own bedding. Well I don't know if I'm going to be the one to actually make the bedding. I know a few people who sew, so I'm hoping one of them will be willing to help me out!

These will be the fabrics I'm using for the bedding! Sorry it's a crappy cell phone picture I keep losing my camera. You can notice that the fabrics are girly but free of butterflies or cartoon animals. I can't wait until it's all done! Now we just need a crib!

I have several more projects in the works for the baby's room.

a bow board
a mobile
a sign with her name on it with cute modge podge letters

and I'm sure I'll think of more things along the way!

Genes

2010-09-29T21:48:00.011-06:00

I'm feeling genealogical today. These people are my family. Yes, Courtney... I stole these pictures from your facebook...

This is my Grandma Jones. She was beautiful and if you know my cousin Courtney you know she is beautiful as well because they look exactly alike!
My Grandpa Leslie (if you haven't guessed already... I was named after him). I believe this picture was taken when he was in the Navy.

My dad and my uncle Chris looking very dapper in their high water pants (my dad is the older one)

Ha. Look at what a nerd my dad was!

Month Six

2010-09-22T13:19:00.004-06:00

So I've made it to my sixth month of pregnancy! Less than 30 days and I'll be in my third trimester...yikes! By request I'm put up a couple of pictures of my baby bump. I finally think that I look pregnant and not just fat and I think that it helps that complete strangers having started asking me when I'm due. Sorry they're just cell phone pictures taken in mirrors. When I actually remember to take pictures of my bump it's when I'm home alone.

So far in this pregnancy...

I get dandruff and acne on my shoulders (yeah I'm attractive!)
I crave chocolate but not plain chocolate. Just chocolatey things like brownies!
I'm obsessed with mayonaise. I don't eat spoonfuls of it or anything but I like it a lot!
I also went through a tomato phase.
My weight gain is right on track but believe me when I say the numbers on the scale are starting to stress me out.
She kicks like crazy!
I wake up every morning at 6am needing to pee.
Working even a 4 hour shift on my feet exhausts me and my feet have started swelling.
I have crazy dreams
During the first trimester I threw up while brushing my teeth at least 50% of the time. I gagged 100% of the time.
I haven't gotten to experience the "fuller, thicker" hair everyone raves about during pregnancy. I lose just as much hair in the shower now as I did before I was pregnant.
However, hair has grown around my belly button...yet even more evidence of my attractiveness.

and we're pretty set on a name....

Isabel Susann Jackson

We plan on calling her Izzie. If you know me pretty well then you know I may or may not have taken the name Isabel from Grey's Anatomy... (I know, I know I'm obsessed but it's such a pretty name). And Susann is a combination of our mom's names. Susie + RaeAnn = Susann

mad mad world

2010-09-18T22:14:00.002-06:00

I went to the grocery store this morning to pick up eggs since Troy was making a delicious breakfast and we had no eggs. While walking down an aisle I overheard a very typical conversation between two girls...

"Jenny, you are so skinny!"
"No I'm not, I'm so fat."

Typical except for the part where I forgot to mention that they couldn't have been more than seven years old. These girls had missing front teeth for crying out loud! And for the record neither one of them was the slightest bit overweight. Two perfectly healthy little girls.

What is this world coming to???

the glamorous side of marriage/true love

2010-09-04T21:58:00.002-06:00

I couldn't decide which was a better title for this post about the conversation my husband and I had today.

Let me set the seen... Troy and I had just finished eating lunch. Troy stood up to put the dishes away and I was still sitting reading the newspaper. Troy walks over to me and starts picking through my hair, you know just like how monkeys pick through each others fur... minus the eating part.

Me: Do I have dandruff?
Troy: Yeah.
Me: Is it really bad?
Troy: Well... it kind of looks like someone was eating potato chips over your head.
Me: gross.

In my defense pregnancy has given me the worst dandruff, this isn't a usual thing for me.

He loves me thats for sure :)

I need this...

2010-09-01T23:08:00.003-06:00

I want this crib bedding set. I want it sooo ridiculously bad. I'm super picky about baby stuff and I just can't seem to find anything I like except this. Everything else that is girly is pastel (blek), butterflies (double blek), or cutesy cartoon animals or worse cutesy cartoon butterflies (blek, blek, blek!). The downside is this bedding is a little pricey... I've been trying to be super thrifty since we're a little tight on cash. I'm re-painting a DI dresser, taking all of the hand-me downs I can get and I got a top rated car seat that runs for like $200 for $80. a steal if I do say so myself! So I can justify spending a little extra on some bedding that will get pooped, peed and puked on all the time, right?

I'm probably going to talk myself in to buying this. I want it that bad.

Pictures!!

2010-08-30T15:52:00.004-06:00

I've decided that it is Troy's computer and not blogger that is being dumb. I can normally copy and paste the pictures in the order that I want but it's just not working. I only uploaded the pictures you can actually tell what they are. The first picture is of her cute little feet, the second picture is the top of her head and you can see her little brain and her little fingers. She was sucking on her thumb! and the last picture is of her beautiful little profile!

I'm literally laughing out loud at myself. I used to look at my friends ultrasound pictures on facebook or on blogs and when they would leave captions like "look how cute he/she is!" I'd think to myself, "it looks like every other ultrasound picture I've ever seen." I guess you just have to wait until you have your own and then you can ooh and ahh over how cute their brain is or how perfect their little fingers are.

She sure is cute.

I am starting to sound like a mother. Yikes!

In case you haven't heard...

2010-08-26T22:08:00.005-06:00

we're having a girl!!!

It was so much fun to see her on the ultrasound. My favorite part was seeing her and feeling her at the same time. I could feel a jab and realize that was her foot or her head. Already she's a stubborn little thing. She moves around like crazy in my belly all day so the ultrasound tech had hard time getting all of the pictures that she needed to get. The doctor had to finally come in to check for the gender and it took her a good 15 minutes to get a somewhat distinguishable picture of her girl parts. We never did get a good picture or her spine because she literally kept turning around in circles every time the doctor tried. The doctor said that based on how much she was moving around and that everything looked great in her brain that most likely everything with the spine was perfectly normal. Other than that everything looked great!

After the appointment they gave us a few pictures and a DVD of the entire ultrasound. That was really cool. I've already watched it twice!

I've fallen in love with her.

I tried posting pictures but blogger is being dumb and not letting me. I'll try again later!!

30 things catch up, Days 22-30

2010-08-23T15:47:00.002-06:00

I haven't posted because the charger on my laptop decided to commit suicide. I was catching up on a missed episode of Teen Mom online when I heard a very curious "zap zap!" sound. I investigated and found that my power cord was smoking. I quickly unplugged it. Luckily my laptop is fine, my charger is not. I have yet to buy a new charger. Those things are expensive!! That's when I realized that I have the use of Troy's laptop at my disposal. So voila!

Since it's been a while I don't really remember which "day" I did each day... My apologies.

Day 22: Today... I will spend time with a friend.

I got to hang out with my good friend Angela. I haven't seen her since her cute daughter Emery was a few months old. And she's almost 2!! We went to lunch at cafe rio and caught up on each others lives and gossiped.

Day 23: Today... I will finish something I started.

I finished reading Eat Pray Love. It was a really good book but the part where she was in India was really hard for me to get through. It was really dull to me. It was all about her struggle with meditating. I had quit reading it for awhile. And normally I read really fast. I was going to see the movie with my friends and wanted to read the whole thing before. I powered through that book!

Day 24: Today... I'll make good use of my time

Since graduating. Quitting my job and the end of my internship I've had a lot of free time and I admit that a lot of that time has been well wasted. Sleeping in, tv watching, blog stalking. I cleaned our bedroom and our bathroom. Did 2 loads of laundry including folding and I made dinner. I feel so much better about myself when I'm not a big lazy.

Day 25: Today... I'll get moving.

Just like I admitted on Day 24, I've been pretty lazy. I went to the gym and did an hour of cardio. I got nice and sweaty. It felt great!

Day 26: Today.... I'll put money into perspective

Since Troy and I are entering into a new chapter in our lives I've come to the disappointing realization that "fun money" will not be as easy to come by for the next 20+ years. We've been needing to re-budget. So I did. Goodbye money. It was nice having a little bit of you for awhile.

Day 27: Today... I'll appreciate where I live.

Living with my mom wasn't exactly how I pictured my life at 23, married and expecting a baby. And I've had a bit of an ungrateful attitude about it. When I think about it though I'm really so lucky. Troy and I have decided to stay longer than just the fall. In fact, we're planning on living here for awhile when the baby is born. In January we'll have a new baby, hospital expenses, Troy will be starting his first semester at the University of Utah (and the tuition that goes along with that), and I will be out of work caring for our baby for a couple of months. My mom is so kind and generous. She has offered us her bedroom since its upstairs next to the office and is letting us turn the office in to the baby's room. Our little bedroom down stairs is barely big enough for the 2 of us. No room to put a baby. I really do appreciate all that my mom does for us.

Day 28: Today... I will learn to cook something new.

My favorite food is italian. My favorite restaurant is the Olive Garden. I found the recipe online for Capellini Pomodoro. And I made it. It was SUPER easy and pretty darn healthy. And tasty :)

Day 29: Today... I'll live in the moment.

I've struggled a lot with always looking toward the future. I'd find myself saying things like, "I'll be happy when I graduate," "Tomorrow is going to be so much fun." What's wrong with today? I focused on being happy with today. Focusing on enjoying whatever is going on around me. Hanging out with my mom, enjoying the company of my dogs, spending the last dwindling moments of "Leslie and Troy."

Day 30: Today... I'll be creative.

I regularly read two blogs All Things Thrifty and The Frosted Gardner. I've been wanting to refinish some old furniture for a while now and these two blogs inspire me every day! I've never really gotten around to it. So I finally did! I went to DI and bought me a little dresser for the baby's room. And I'm so excited to refinish it!! The same day I bought the baby's dresser I got offered 2 free MATCHING dressers. An offer I couldn't refuse! Troy and I have mis matched bedroom furniture. I've been wanting a matching bedroom set since we said "I do." Unfortunately, we're poor as crap students. So now I've taken on not ONE but THREE re-finishing projects. I've never re-finished anything in my life. I'M SO EXCITED.

Sorry this post was forever long.

But we find out if we're having a boy or a girl on Wednesday!!! wahoo!!

random thought.

2010-08-11T23:05:00.002-06:00

I was very contemplative today.
I've been trying to figure out what i'm supposed to do next now that i'm all graduated.
I was seriously so frustrated.
So I said out loud to myself
"I wish someone would just tell me what I'm supposed to do next!"

and then...

My baby kicked me.

I literally laughed out loud.
duh.

I suppose God does let you know what your next move is.
sometimes its a really really REALLY big surprise.
Thankfully for me
he's letting me know 9 months in advance.

30 things: Day 21

2010-08-10T14:05:00.002-06:00

Today.... I will not complain.

I think I'm a chronic complainer. I do it all of the time. I think mostly because I've enjoyed getting my way pretty much my whole life (but honestly who doesn't?).

Yesterday I had plenty of opportunity to complain. I wanted yesterday to be a learning experience and to not be about me being a martyr and taking one for the team in silence. I think as a human being I can use the practice at telling people what I want versus complaining about something I'm not getting.

Sadly my dear sweet husband gets about 90% of my complaints.

"Why did you do this?"
Why didn't you know I wanted this? I always do _____ this way"
"How come you're not doing that?"

I really need to master the art of "Thanks for your help, next time would you mind doing ____?"

So yesterday I did not complain. Which took a lot of self discipline. I think it helped a lot though. It opened communication a lot more and I think that Troy was even more willing to do things when I asked nicely or made suggestions instead of complaining that he was doing something wrong.

Grad

2010-08-09T16:42:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited to say that I have graduated from College!! I'm the first in my family to graduate from college. My mom only got her high school diploma and my dad only got through one semester of college. Even in my extended family there haven't been too many grads. So it's a pretty big accomplishment to me. I'm so thankful to all my family and friends who've helped me reach this goal. Especially my mom who has been there for me through every finals week melt down. She's been such a huge supporter of my education. And of course to Troy. He's been there for the melt downs as well. Both of them have given me so much support.

Here are some random thoughts about me graduating...

I looooved my minor (nutrition) I wish that I would have majored in it but alas the U does not have a major... only a minor and a masters. Strange I know. I love that it is something practical that I literally use every single day, multiple times a day.

My major (psychology) is a little impractical from a job stand point. But it was fascinating to me.

My freshman year I was horrible at school. My sophomore year I was pretty bad too. I had to retake classes.

I've been to 3 different colleges.

I discovered that school is sooo much easier when you actually go to class.

If you talk to your teachers and let them know you're struggling they'll practically bend over backwards to help you out. I had a teacher once raise my grade on a test from a D- to a C- just because I went in after hours.

Some classes are beyond boring. Environment and Behavior, Language of Color, Intro to Jazz. Avoid them if you can...

The international requirement at the U is completely bogus.

Parking at the U is a joke.

I still have no idea what I want to do.

I can't wait to go to graduate school! whenever i can figure out what I want to do... and whenever I can actually make that happen.

30 things: Days 18, 19 & 20

2010-08-04T23:47:00.002-06:00

Day 18: Today..... I will work on my sense of humor.

I like to think I'm a funny person. I probably think I'm more funny than I actually am. I think my friends tend to laugh at me more than they laugh with me. And that's ok. I do dumb stuff a lot. It's just fact. One thing I appreciate about my husband is that he genuinely thinks I'm funny.

I don't know how one really goes about working on their sense of humor but today I spent a good 20 minutes watching clips from Fail Blog off of youtube. If you can't laugh while watching this video I think YOU need to work on your sense of humor. I would start off by watching fail blog... HILARIOUS.

Day 19: Today...... I'll do a "secret service"

Sorry kiddos. I can't tell you what I did. Then it wouldn't be a secret. You're supposed to do one nice thing for someone, anyone and not tell a soul. It can be leaving a nice anonymous note for someone, leaving flowers on a door step, some sort of donation. My lips are sealed. But I dare you to try it!!

Day 20: Today...... I'll learn something useless

I know thats weird. Why on earth would knowing something useless make me a better person? It probably won't. But I'll be way more fun to talk to! Troy's friend Nick knows useless information about practically every topic you could ever come up with. I'm convinced he actually makes up like 94% of these facts. For instance, he once told me that scientists were looking into using cat urine as a new possible fuel for cars... cat urine? i don't think so. It definitely makes conversation more interesting... so here is my useless knowledge I have learned today...

A hump back whale's milk is 54% fat. This could one day prove useful... If I'm ever faced with a decision such as trying to decide between Orca or hump back whale milk while stranded on a desert island? maybe?

p.s. I am going on a camping trip the next 4 days and I am therefore on a temporary 30 day hiatus for 4 days because I will almost probably, most likely forget. I may do one... I make no promises.

30 things: Days 12-17

2010-08-01T22:58:00.002-06:00

um... So I officially sucked at blogging this week. Considering I've been schooling it up like crazy since i GRADUATE from COLLEGE on wednesday I forgive myself. I hope you can too.

I'll make these fast except my favorite one I did this week...

Day 12: Today.... I will do my part to stop world hunger.

I know as a member of the LDS faith that I have helped contribute to this quite often through tithes and fast offerings. I was wondering what I should do on Monday for this challenge and I read a blog article that I will not link because it just really made me upset. Some lady (who I've never even met just a random blog I came across) was on some rant about how she thinks that things such as free lunch programs at school are bogus. And how the government should not be apart of helping hungry people get food and that people should have to rely on themselves and their families if they are starving. I understand being upset at people who take advantage of such programs but REALLY? If i'm happy about being taxed at all it's to help others get a meal.

So it really got me thinking about people who might be poor and may not have access to the bishops store house or other things the church has to offer those in need. I wanted to help those people. So I got a box and went to my food storage in search of unexpired canned/dry goods. I got my box of food and headed to the Bountiful Food Pantry.

I have decided from this experience that not too many ordinary people must walk in with box of food to donate on a regular basis. I went right before the pantry closed and it was packed. I'd never been before and had to clue what I was doing. I was dodging people left and right who were darting to get what little items were left on the shelf. I mean there was enough food there for everyone but it was surprisingly or not so surprisingly bare. Except for bread. They had A LOT of bread. I kept looking for someone to take my small (yet incredibly heavy) box but everyone there thought I was there to pick up food. "You need to go sign in before we close if you want food." and I kept saying "No i just want to donate this." so they would give me a shocked look and say "oh! well then you need to go over there!" Finally someone took my food.

I felt pretty good. I would like to make this more regular. I think a lot of people only think about donating food around the holidays and I can tell you...the Bountiful pantry needs food. Go donate some!

Day 13: Today.... I will read for no reason.

I love reading. But lately with school, work, internship my leisurely reading has been cut to zero. I made time for myself and read some of Eat, Pray, Love. I want to finish it before it comes out in the theater in the next couple of weeks. I've missed reading.

Day 14: Today... I will study (my scriptures)

I gave the kids the challenge of just studying for school or whatever. Since I already study pretty much every day I decided to do some scripture study which I admit I have not been doing every day.

Day 15: Today... I will meditate.

Meditation is freaking hard. I wasn't even sure how to do it. I felt like an idiot doing the "omm" thing since I don't even know what "omm" means. So I decided to lay on my bed and try to be all zen. I completely fell asleep. It was nice though.

Day 16: Today... I will enjoy nature.

I went up to Mill Hollow with Troy and his parents for a couple of hours to pick out a camping spot for our trip next week. I've never been to Mill Hollow but can I just tell you that it is THE most beautiful part of the Uintas that I have ever been too? Wild flowers EVERYWHERE, a herd of sheep, rolling hills and meadows, streams, a lake. I'm so excited for camping next weekend!

Day 17: Today... I will relax.

Best. idea. ever.

Bump in progress...

2010-07-27T15:08:00.006-06:00

So I decided to do post that is un-related to my 30 things challenge. Mainly because I was excited this morning when I woke up and did my morning "belly check." I don't think I've ever actually called it that to be honest with you... I just stare at my stomach every day for a few minutes to see if I have stopped looking fat and started looking pregnant. I know I'm still pretty small but my stomach is finally starting to round out instead of just looking pudgy. So here is a comparison for you dear friends who live far away and I never see. Or those who live close by and I never see...

I took this picture at 6 weeks just so I had a reference point of what I looked liked "pre pregnancy"...

So here I am today at 16 weeks...And yes those are maternity jeans... sad to say my normal jeans don't fit anymore...

Staring at this pictures makes me realize that the bigger my stomach gets... how much smaller my non-existent bum is going to look.

I know it's not a huge difference but it makes me excited!

P.S. thanks Mal for letting me borrow the jeans!!

30 things: Days 9, 10, 11

2010-07-25T16:36:00.002-06:00

Day 9: Today.... I will keep the TV turned off.

I actually surprised myself at how easy this task was. I watch at least some tv every day. Watching TV is how I unwind from long days, distract myself, entertain myself, etc... So when Thursday rolled around and I had no school and no work I thought "perfect day for no tv" the more challenging the better right?

I woke up and ate breakfast and read the newspaper. Then I resumed working on my final paper for my dietary supplements class. I got a HUGE chunk of that done. Amazing what one can do with fewer distractions. When my brain could no longer handle thinking/writing/reading anymore about green tea extract and caffeine's effect on weight loss I went and hung out with my great friend Lisa! She's pregnant too! in fact she's due only 2 weeks after I am. We chatted about pregnancy related things, husbands, friends, work, you name it I think we covered it. Before I knew it, it was 6pm and Troy was calling me asking where I was. When I got home Troy did have the TV on and I barely watched any of it. I tried my best to stick with "no tv" I read a book while Troy watched tv.

I felt really productive. And despite my brain needing a break I didn't need to tv to do that job. It's amazing what you can do when you don't let tv distract you.

Day 10: Today....I will be myself.

I feel like I'm myself 95% of my days. This might have been harder for me 3-4 years ago when I was still trying to figure out who I was. Believe me I literally went on a quest to find myself and it was a long, scary, exciting, weird, awesome quest and at the end is who I am now. I'm still discovering things about myself. I don't think the journey is ever truly over but I no longer feel the need to pretend I'm something I'm not to please someone else. It's not always easy.

On friday "being myself" apparently meant being my pregnant hormonal self. I cried and kept crying. I cried for no reason, which led me to more crying about being mad that I was crying for no reason and then I cried because I was embaressed at how hard I was crying in front of my husband for no apparent reason. Pretty sure Troy thought I was crazy. I felt crazy. I took my friend Mallory's advice when I told her what was happening, "being pregnant sucks. Just cry it out." So I did. I let myself be who I was at that moment. A pregnant, emotional, loon. I felt better.

Day 11: Today.... I will finish my paper.

Ok so this particular today wasn't on the list of stuff I'm going to give to the Lifeline kids. I made that one up for myself. I really really needed to finish my paper that is due on monday so that I could turn it into a powerpoint presentation that is also due on Monday. And even though it was Saturday and the holiday and there were about 5 kajillion other things I would have rather been doing... I finished my paper. And it feels great. I've been working on that stupid piece of crap for 3 weeks now! It has swallowed my life. My dietary supplements class is one of several graduate level classes I've had to take for my minor. While none of them have been terribly hard they have been incredibly time consuming. So believe me when I say this "today" was much needed.

30 things: Day 6, 7, 8

2010-07-22T09:21:00.002-06:00

I've decided that I really dislike blogging everyday. I don't mind blogging until I have to do it.

Day 6: Today...I forgot.

I'm going to be completely honest. Monday rolled around and I completely spaced doing a "Today..." I blame my pregnant brain.

Day 7: Today... I will think about my values.

I found this definition of values that I really liked, "a collection of guiding, usually positive principles; what one deems to be correct and desirable in life, especially regarding personal conduct"

I value...
Love
Faith
Honesty
Kindness
Family
Knowledge/learning
Freedom of choice
Freedom of speech
Human rights
Freedom in general
Spirituality

So there they are. Those aren't my only values, just the ones I came up with during my pondering. The ones I thought were most important anyway.

What are your values?

Day 8: Today... I will do well.

Yesterday I decided to do my best at everything I did. I had my last ever staff meeting with my Max job yesterday. I hate staff meetings. You'd think after a year that I'd stop being nervous of going in front of the same 4 people every 2 weeks and demonstrating my ABA skills. Nope. Most definitely not. I still got nervous. When I told myself "I will do well" my nerves subsided a bit. My last ever staff meeting sitting went pretty well. In fact I did well.

I went home and did homework for a few hours and emailed part of my paper to my teacher to have him look over it to make sure I was doing it right. He said my paper was "spot on!" and that if I keep it up I'll be "golden." I did well.

Then I went to my Rec Center job and did well there too.

I think this whole "doing well" thing isn't about being the best at everything but just doing your best. If you do your best (even if you're not the best) you'll still do well.

What am I doing today for Day 9 you ask?? No tv. That's right. No tv. And I'm home alone all day! Well I decided to do no TV until Troy gets home. He'll inevitably turn the tv on to ESPN when he gets home. He's not doing this with me.